Shikoku Inu
/ʃiːˈkoʊkuː ˈiːnuː/noun
A Japanese dog breed originating on Shikoku Island.
Did you know?The Shikoku Inu developed in remote mountain districts where it was used to hunt wild boar, and its primitive appearance reflects centuries of geographic isolation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
四國
“Four regions or countries; the characters later supplied the Japanese name for Shikoku.”
Ancient Japan
Japanese
四国
“Shikoku, literally “four provinces,” referring to the island’s historic division into four provinces.”
Old Japanese
Japanese
inu
“Dog; the native Japanese word for a canine.”
17th–19th Century
Japanese
土佐犬 / Tosa inu
“Dog associated with Tosa, one of Shikoku’s historic provinces; local hunting dogs developed distinct regional types.”
20th Century
Japanese
四国犬
“Shikoku dog; the breed name adopted as the regional dog was formally recognized.”
Modern English
English
Shikoku Inu
“The English name for the Japanese breed also known as the Shikoku or Shikoku Ken.”