こめじるし

Japanese

Alternative spelling
米印

Etymology

Compound of 米 (kome, “rice, uncooked rice”) +‎ 印 (shirushi, “mark, symbol”). The shirushi changes to jirushi as an instance of rendaku (連濁). From the similarity in shape between the 米 character and the ※ (※) symbol.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ko̞me̞ʑiɾɯ̟ɕi]

Noun

こめじるし • (komejirushi) 

1. the Japanese symbol ※ (※) similar in function and appearance to the asterisk
2. (more generally) an asterisk (＊ (＊))

References

• Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
• Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN