Shiba
/ˈʃiː.bə/noun
A Japanese breed of small dog, usually called a Shiba Inu in English.
Did you know?Japanese 柴 (shiba) means “brushwood” or “scrub,” while inu means “dog”; unlike many occult-sounding words, the name’s mystery lies in competing historical explanations rather than magic.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
柴 (shiba)
“Brushwood, cut branches, or scrub vegetation”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
shiba
“Brushwood or dense low vegetation, associated with rough countryside and mountain terrain”
19th Century
Japanese
Shiba Inu (柴犬)
““Brushwood dog,” the name for a small Japanese hunting dog”
Early 20th Century
Japanese
Shiba
“A shortened form used for the breed name in Japan”
20th Century
English
Shiba Inu
“The Japanese dog breed’s English name”
Modern English
English
Shiba
“A shortened English name for the Shiba Inu breed”