Akita
/əˈkiːtə/noun
A name for a prefecture in northern Japan and for a large Japanese dog breed originating there.
Did you know?The Akita dog’s name comes from Akita Prefecture, where the breed developed; the Japanese word 秋田 combines autumn with a rice paddy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
秋田
“A place-name formed from “autumn” and “rice field.””
8th Century
Japanese
Akita
“A northern Japanese regional name recorded in early historical and geographic traditions.”
17th–19th Century
Japanese
Akita-inu
““Akita dog,” referring to dogs associated with the region.”
1930s
English
Akita
“The Japanese dog breed’s name begins appearing in English-language usage.”
Modern English
English
Akita
“The Japanese prefecture or the large dog breed originating there.”