Page:An Ainu-English-Japanese dictionary (including a grammar of the Ainu language).djvu/578

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ANCIENT JAPANESE AND AINU COMPARED.
japanese. ainu.

also so, a “bare rock,” a “boulder,” a “waterfall.”

Kamu, “god.” Kamui, “god.” The root of this word is ka, “over”; “above,” “top.” It is like super and ὑπέρ. Ka occurs in kando, “heaven”; “the skies” and in many words where the sense of super is to be conveyed. Kamu means “to cover,” in Ainu and to “over-shadow.” The final i is a substantivizing particle implying “person” or “thing,” “he,” “she,” or “it.” Here, according to the genius of the language and the psychological conception of Ainu theological thought kamui means “he who covers” or “he who over-shadows”; thus reminding as of Jupiter and Οὑρανοσ.[1]
Iwa, “a rock.” Iwa, “land as opposed to rivers and lakes.”
Iwai, “a festive celebration. Iwai, “a festive celebration of any kind.”
Kasa, “a hat.” Kasa, “a hat.” Kasa-tupep, “hat strings.”
Keire, “shoes.” This word is still used in the Nambu District by Japanese. Keire, “shoes and sandles whether made of skin or bark.” This word is said by the Ainu to be Ainu, and by the Japanese, Japanese.
Kura,
Kuro,
Kuru,
“black”; “dark.”
Kunne,
Kurokok,
Ekureok,
“black”; “dark;” Kuru, “a cloud.”

Makiri “a knife.” This word is much used in the Nambu


  1. Cpf. Chips from a German workshop Vol. II. page 65.