Vol. 09 · Loanwords ·Japanese ·1880s
Kimono
from kimono
- Meaning
- Literally "thing to wear" (着物) — the traditional Japanese robe.
- Source word
- kimono
- Route into English
- Japanese → English via Meiji-era (1860s–1890s) trade and diplomacy. Used briefly for any Asian-style robe in Western fashion before narrowing back to the Japanese garment.
- Arrived
- 1880s
From Japanese
Two waves — Meiji-era diplomatic contact (1850s–1900s) and post-war US military presence (1945–) account for almost all Japanese loans in general English.
English borrows.
Browse the full loanword atlas or explore another source language.