koto

[ koh-toh; Japanese kaw-taw ]

noun

, plural ko·tos, ko·to.

1. a Japanese musical instrument having numerous strings, usually seven or thirteen, that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are plucked with three plectra, worn on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of one hand.

koto

/ ˈkəʊtəʊ /

noun

1. a Japanese stringed instrument, consisting of a rectangular wooden body over which are stretched silk strings, which are plucked with plectrums or a nail-like device

Word History and Origins

Origin of koto¹

Borrowed into English from Japanese around 1785–95

Word History and Origins

Origin of koto¹

Japanese

Example Sentences

She took the title after fellow Japanese Koto Okubo passed away on Jan. 12, 2013, at the age of 115 years and 19 days.

From The Daily Beast

Koto, Leider's found means of protecting both raw materials and living beings against the atomic gun!

From Project Gutenberg

Koto's face was drawn, and Virginia Crane was staring in horrified fascination at the gun.

From Project Gutenberg

Virginia Crane cried as I presented her and Koto with my struggling but helpless prize.

From Project Gutenberg

Captain Crane and Koto were making weak, despairing signs at me from the entrance to the control room.

From Project Gutenberg

I felt really sure that the guards were not armed with some mysterious weapon we could not see, and Koto felt the same.

From Project Gutenberg