Bonzo
/ˈbɒn.zoʊ/noun
An archaic English term for a Buddhist priest or monk, also spelled bonze.
Did you know?English received bonzo through Portuguese bonzo, which was borrowed from Japanese bonzō, showing how religious encounters reshaped European vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
房主
“Master of a residence or household; the likely ancestral expression behind the Japanese term.”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
坊主
“Bōzu: a Buddhist priest or monk; literally associated with a religious residence or temple master.”
16th Century
Japanese
ぼんず (bonzu)
“A pronunciation used by Portuguese visitors for a Buddhist priest.”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
bonzo
“A Buddhist priest or monk, adopted from Japanese.”
17th Century
English
bonzo
“A Buddhist priest; an archaic or historical term, later also used in various informal senses.”