Hina
/ˈhiː.nə/noun
A Japanese term for a traditional doll, especially one used in the Hina Matsuri festival.
Did you know?In Japanese, 雛 originally referred to a young bird or hatchling before becoming associated with miniature figures and ceremonial dolls.
Etymological Timeline
Old Japanese
Old Japanese
pïna
“A young bird or chick; the ancestral form associated with later hina.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
雛（ひな）
“A chick or young bird; later, a small or delicate figure.”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
hina
“A small figure or doll, especially one used in representations of court life.”
17th–18th Century
Japanese
雛人形（hina ningyō）
“A ceremonial doll representing members of the imperial court.”
Modern English
English
hina
“A Japanese doll or term associated with Hina Matsuri, usually encountered in cultural and art-historical contexts.”