raku

R1A1K5U1

proper noun

A style of Japanese pottery, considered the traditional style for the pottery used in the Japanese tea ceremony; (especially capitalized) such pottery made by the Raku family.

UncommonScrabble 8

Meanings

raku1

noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Raku.

Raku2

proper noun

alternative raku

  1. ceramicsA style of Japanese pottery, considered the traditional style for the pottery used in the Japanese tea ceremony; (especially capitalized) such pottery made by the Raku family.

    2010, John Mathieson, Techniques Using Slips, Chapter 6: Slips and Raku, page 53, As a technique, raku seems to encourage experimentation.

    2 more examples

    Raku bowls are of two types. The red Raku is made from a reddish earthenware clay and is glazed with a lead glaze.

    1968, Daniel Rhodes, Kilns: Design, Construction and Operation, page 180

    Koetsu learned the technique of Raku pottery from the Raku potter Kichizaemon Jokei (1561-1635) and his son Nonko (aka Donyu; 1599-1656), who also had the name Kichibei.

    1989, Chanoyu Quarterly, number 58, page 38
  2. The English transliteration of a Japanese surname; specifically, that of the family traditionally licensed to manufacture the pottery.

Raku3

proper noun
  1. computer languagesA programming language derived from Perl.

    Many programming paradigms have influenced Raku. It has started its life under the name “Perl 6” but has been renamed in 2019 to break the illusion that it is just another version of Perl.

    2020, Moritz Lenz, Raku Fundamentals, 2nd edition, Apress, →ISBN, page 1

Origin

Raku · proper noun

  1. Japanese楽“fun, delightful”
  2. EnglishRaku

From Japanese 楽 (raku, “fun, delightful”). A seal engraved with this word was marked on the early pieces. It was the title and seal used by 15 generations of potters.

Full word history & related roots →

Raku · proper noun

  1. Japanese駱駝“camel”
  2. EnglishRaku

Probably a clipping of rakudo, the standard compiler, from Japanese 駱駝 (rakuda, “camel”), an allusion to the traditional symbol of the Perl language.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

raku. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/raku

MLA

“raku.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/raku. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “raku,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/raku.

Source: raku on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.