Etymology

maneki-neko

Today it means: A common Japanese figurine which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. Full definition →

Japanese 招き猫
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The story

  1. Japanese · borrowed from招き猫
  2. English todaymaneki-neko

From Japanese 招き猫 (maneki neko, literally “beckoning cat”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.