Bokken

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɒk.ən/

Definitions

1. A training sword made from wood, commonly found in Japanese martial disciplines, serving to replicate the feel of a genuine blade
2. An implement designed from timber, primarily utilized in Japanese martial arts, to provide a safe training alternative to metal swords
3. A wooden sword used specifically for training in Japanese martial arts, simulating real blade techniques without the risks of metal swords

Etymology: Bokken is a Japanese compound: "boku" (木), meaning "wood" or "tree," joined to "ken" (剣), meaning "sword." Together they name a practice sword carved from wood, used in the martial arts of Japan to train technique without the danger of steel. The English word is simply the Japanese term borrowed directly, so it keeps the plain, literal sense of its parts. The reading "bokken" is itself a product of sound change in compounding. The second element, "ken," is pronounced "gen" when it follows certain sounds, and in this case the combination shifts to "bokken" (ぼっけん), with the "k" doubled in the middle. Japanese speakers recognize the word as an ordinary term for a wooden sword, and English speakers borrowed it with little alteration, which is why the spelling looks so foreign.