Wagyu

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈwæɡ.juː/

Definitions

1. A premium variety of beef originating from Japan, this meat is distinguished by its exceptional marbling and buttery softness
2. This specific type of beef, sourced from a special breed of cattle in Japan, is famous for its rich flavor and tender texture
3. A high-quality beef sourced from a unique breed of Japanese cattle, known for its intense marbling and rich, buttery taste that contributes to a luxurious eating experience

Etymology: Wagyu is a compound of two ordinary Japanese words. "Wa" (和) was used as a gloss for "Japan" itself, a usage that goes back to the Chinese character 倭, which the Japanese once used and which was read in Middle Chinese as "wa." "Gyū" (牛) means "cow," so the whole term literally means "Japanese cow." Its meaning has been narrowed over time: in Japan the word began as a general way of distinguishing native cattle from imported Western breeds, and today it refers specifically to a group of beef breeds raised in Japan. The "wa" element is the more interesting one. Japan's name in Chinese, 倭 (wō in modern Mandarin), was an old term for the country and for its people, and 和, a character meaning "harmony" or "peace," came to serve as a substitute for it. The result is that a word for beef carries, in its first syllable, a trace of the Chinese name for the country that produced it.