雇 (gù)

variant of 雇[gu4]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound. Originally was the name of a type of bird. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“雇,九雇,農桑候鳥,扈民不婬者也。从隹,戶聲。春雇鳻盾,夏雇竊玄,秋雇竊藍,冬雇竊黃,棘雇竊丹,行雇唶唶,宵雇嘖嘖,桑雇竊脂,老雇鷃也。,雇或从雩,,籀文雇,从鳥。”

Original meaning

type of bird

Components