kamikaze English · revision 1093

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌkɑː.mɪˈkɑː.ziː/ ''(UK)''; /ˌkɑ.mɪˈkɑ.zi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|ja|神風|tr=kamikaze|t=divine wind]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''kami'' “god, divine” and ''kaze'' “wind”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It was originally the name of a typhoon that in 1281 saved Japan by destroying the invading Mongol fleet of Kublai Khan.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The wind of the gods, as an explanatory term in English (1896).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Second World War the name was given to the Japanese pilots who made suicidal crash attacks on enemy targets, especially ships;^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989) the attacks began in October 1944 off the Philippines,^(Etymonline) and the word is recorded in English from 1945.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) It also named an aircraft loaded with explosives for such an attack.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) The adjective is from 1946,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in a transferred sense means recklessly self-destructive.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1281 – the typhoon that wrecked the Mongol fleet.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1896 – the wind of the gods, in English.^(OED 1989)

+ * October 1944 – the first suicide attacks.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1945 – a suicide pilot or aircraft.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1946 – adjective.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1963 – reckless, self-destructive.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A Japanese pilot in the Second World War trained to make a [[suicide|alt=suicidal]] crash attack, especially on a ship.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An aircraft loaded with explosives, used in such an attack.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An extremely reckless person.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[cocktail]] of vodka, triple sec and lime juice.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to a suicidal attack.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # So reckless as to be suicidal.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[kami]]

+ * [[typhoon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}