あよ

Okinawan

Etymology

Possibly borrowed from an earlier form of Middle Korean 애〯 (ǎy, “courage”). Rising pitches in Middle Korean imply an earlier disyllabic form, so the Old Okinawan word could have preserved such form.

Attseted in forms ai (あい), ayu (あゆ), ayo (あよ), and oyo (およ).

Noun

あよ or *あゆ (ayo) 

1. (Old Okinawan, Middle Okinawan) liver
   • 1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi

     あんしおそい　／　あよが　うちや　まちよく　あれ　きも　ちよく　まだに　あれ

     anshiosoi / ayoga uchiya machiyoku are kimo chiyoku madani are

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 1711, Konkōkenshū:

     あよ　肝の事なり

     Ayo. Liver.

References

• Okinawa Kogo Daijiten Henshū I'inkai (沖縄古語大辞典編集委員会) (1995) 沖縄古語大辞典, Tokyo (東京都): Kadokawa Shoten (角川書店), →ISBN, page 45