bekko
|bek-ko|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɛk.oʊ/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɛk.əʊ/
tortoiseshell material
Etymology
'bekko' originates from Japanese, specifically the word 'bekkō' (鼈甲), where 'bekkō' meant 'tortoiseshell'.
'bekko' was borrowed into English in the mid-19th century from Japanese 'bekkō' (鼈甲), brought to Europe through trade and catalogued in English as the material and objects made from it.
Initially, it meant 'tortoiseshell (the material)', and over time it has retained that meaning while also referring to objects made of the material and to a tortoiseshell color/pattern.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a hard, brown or mottled yellow-and-brown material made from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, used for combs, eyeglass frames, and decorative objects.
The antique comb was carved from bekko.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an object (such as a comb, hairpin, or eyeglass frame) made from bekko material.
She wore a bekko hairpin at the ceremony.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having the color or mottled brown-and-yellow pattern of tortoiseshell (used attributively, e.g., bekko glasses).
He bought a pair of bekko glasses.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/19 02:25