kirin

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 麒(き)麟(りん) (kirin), from Middle Chinese. Doublet of qilin.

Why this word is great

KIRIN — [Noun] A mythical creature in East Asian cultures, often depicted as a chimerical beast with auspicious attributes, known as 'qilin' in Chinese and 'kirin' in Japanese contexts. Borrowed from Japanese 麒麟 (kirin), from Middle Chinese, ultimately derived from ancient Chinese mythology; doublet of 'qilin'. Unlike "dragon" (which snarls with storm and sovereignty) or "phoenix" (which burns and is born again), the kirin is a quiet herald of harmony, stepping lightly on hooves that never crush grass. It is the dappled sunlight through cedar boughs, the scent of rain before it falls, the way a single footprint in fresh snow can suggest something sacred passed by—a creature so gentle its very presence is an omen of peace, reminding us that goodness, though rare, still walks the earth.

noun

Synonym of qilin; typically used in Japanese contexts.

name

Synonym of Jilin (a province in northeastern China).“A single caravan often numbers many as twenty large carts, each with a team of seven animals. In the best caravans, that is those which go into the provinces of Kirin and Hei-lung-chiang and into Mongolia, a team usually consists of a pony in the shafts and six tracing mules three abreast.”
Synonym of Jilin (a city in the province of the same name).“A simple example may be given to show the great advantage of railway transport in this country. In order to get from Kuan-cheng-tze to Kirin (a distance of eighty miles or so), we had to hire four carts to carry ourselves and our effects. The journey took three days and cost eighty roubles (£8) for cart hire alone. When the branch railway to Kirin is finished the same journey would take three hour”
A surname.