兄鷹

Japanese

Kanji in this term
兄	鷹
Grade: 2	Jinmeiyō
irregular

Etymology

Apparently a jukujikun (熟字訓) spelling from 小(しょう) (shō, “small”); contrast with the antonym, 弟鷹(だい) (dai), ostensibly from 大(だい) (dai, “big”). The kanji used are 兄 (“older brother”) +‎ 鷹 (“hawk, northern goshawk”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɕo̞ː]

Noun

兄鷹(しょう) • (shō) 

1. a small hawk
2. a male hawk
3. musket, male sparrowhawk

   Antonym: 弟鷹 (dai)