Akita

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A robust and dignified dog breed with a thick coat, known for its loyalty and protective nature, originally bred in Japan for hunting and guarding purposes
2. This strong and noble breed of dog, recognized for its double coat and loyalty, was historically developed in Japan for the purpose of hunting and protection
3. A powerful dog breed from Japan with a dense coat, valued for its faithful and protective traits

Etymology: The name comes from Akita, a city and prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan. The Japanese placename is written with the characters 秋 (aki, "autumn") and 田 (ta, "rice field"), so the name literally points to an autumnal rice field. English borrowed the word directly from Japanese, keeping the place name as it was and using it for the dog that came from the region. Because the breed is named after a place rather than a function, the word tells you where the dog was developed, not what it does. The name was carried into English with the breed itself, so its meaning in English is simply the dog from Akita.