Daimyo
/ˈdaɪ.mi.oʊ/noun
A powerful territorial lord in premodern Japan, especially during the feudal period.
Did you know?The term was written 大名, using characters meaning “great” and “name”; its status reflected recognized rank and domain authority rather than merely personal fame.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
大名 (dàmíng)
“Great name; an exalted or widely renowned name”
Nara period
Japanese
大名 (daimyō)
“A great name or eminent person”
Heian period
Japanese
大名 (daimyō)
“A powerful provincial landholder or notable local lord”
Muromachi period
Japanese
大名 (daimyō)
“A major military governor or territorial lord”
Edo period
Japanese
大名 (daimyō)
“A feudal lord governing a domain under the Tokugawa shogunate”
Modern English
English
daimyo
“A feudal territorial lord of premodern Japan”
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