tycoon English · revision 198
5 Oct 2026, 22:15 by bogdan “Add pronunciation, sense history, timeline, meanings, word family, related words” current version
Changes in this edit
@@ -1,6 +1,30 @@
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /taɪˈkuːn/^(Wiktionary)
+
==Etymology==
− First recorded in 1857,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|ja|大君|tr=taikun|t=great lord, prince]],^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) a title given by foreigners to the shogun of Japan,^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from Chinese words meaning “great” and “prince”.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)
+ It is [[bor|ja|大君|tr=taikun|t=great lord, prince]],^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) from Chinese words meaning “great” and “prince”.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)
− The transferred sense “important person” is attested by 1861, in reference to Abraham Lincoln,^(Etymonline) and the application to a wealthy businessman dates from after the First World War.^(Etymonline) Compare [[taipan]].^(Wiktionary)
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The title by which the shogun of Japan was described to foreigners (1857).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The title was meant to make the shogun more impressive to foreigners; his official title meant merely “general”.^(AHD)^(Etymonline) When Commodore Perry opened Japan to the West in 1854, he negotiated with the shogun, thinking him the emperor.^(AHD) Lincoln's cabinet used ''tycoon'' as an affectionate nickname for the president,^(AHD) and the sense “important person” is recorded by 1861 in the diary of his secretary, John Hay.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The application to a wealthy businessman dates from after the First World War.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1854 – Perry negotiates with the shogun.^(AHD)
+ * 1857 – the title of the shogun.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1861 – “an important person”, of Lincoln.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1863 – ''tycoonate''.^(OED 1989)
+ * after 1918 – “a wealthy and powerful businessman”.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A wealthy and powerful businessperson; a magnate.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(historical)'' A title used by foreigners for the shogun of Japan.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[daimyo]]
+ * [[taipan]]
+ * [[shogun]]
==References==