Taxonomy of meanings for 翮:　　

  • 翮 hé (OC: ɡreeɡ MC: ɦɯæk) 下革切 入 廣韻：【鳥羽 】

    Additional information about 翮

    說文解字: 【翮】，羽莖也。从羽、鬲聲。 【下革切】

      Criteria
    • WINGS

      1. The current and general ancient word for the wings or any bird or insect is yì 翼, and typically the reference is to wings in movement.

      2. Chì 翅 is a later word referring to the wings as a general anatomic part of the animals in question with no reference to their being in movement or not.

      3. Hé 翮 refers specifically to the stem of the feathers on the wing (and the word also refers to the wing as such). See FEATHER

      NB: Chì 翅 is post-Han.

    • FEATHER

      1. The commonest word for a feather is máo 毛 which often refers specifically to feathers, although the word also commonly refers to fur.

      2. Yǔ 羽 can refer to any feather of any kind, but which usually refers to feathers as forming the most visible part of a wing.

      3. Yì 翼 and the rarer chì 翅 refers to feathers on birds' wings.

      4. Líng 翎 are large tail feathers.

      5. Hàn 翰 is a rare elevated term for feathers.

      6. Hé 翮 refers specifically to the stem of the feathers on the wing (and the word also refers to the wing as such).