Daimyō
/ˈdaɪmjoʊ/noun
A powerful territorial lord in premodern Japan, especially during the feudal period.
Did you know?A daimyō’s status depended on controlling land that produced at least 10,000 koku of rice, an enormous wealth measure tied directly to agricultural output.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Chinese
大名
“A compound meaning “great name” or “great reputation.””
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
dajH mjæng
“The ancestral pronunciations of 大 (“great”) and 名 (“name”).”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
daimyō
“A “great name,” referring increasingly to a major provincial military lord.”
16th Century
Japanese
大名
“A powerful feudal lord governing a domain, often with retainers, castles, and armies.”
17th–19th Centuries
Japanese
daimyō
“A domain lord under the Tokugawa shogunate, required to navigate strict political obligations and alternate attendance.”
19th Century
English
daimio / daimyo
“An English loanword for a Japanese feudal lord.”
Modern English
English
daimyō
“A historical Japanese territorial lord or feudal noble.”