殿 (diàn)

palace hall

Etymology

Depicts a weapon (殳) smacking a person's buttocks (𡱒). In ancient China, having one's buttocks smacked with a huge stick was one of the punishments criminals could have. Based on the original meaning, "to smack the buttocks". The meaning later shifted to "palace" and "hall", because buildings have an elevated appearance that stick out like buttocks.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“殿,擊聲也。从殳,聲。”

Original meaning

to smack the buttocks

Components