最 (zuì)

variant of 最[zui4]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 取 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "gather". The meaning later shifted to "accumulate", "many" and "most". Originally written as 㝡. Later extra strokes were added to the 宀 component.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“最,犯而取也。从冃,从取。”

Original meaning

gather

Components