Tycoon — Lexography

Journey of meaning

5 forms

.explorer{display:none}

The tycoon journey, in text

The interactive controls need JavaScript. This complete reading remains available.

大君 · Classical Chinese
noun · Classical Chinese
Reading: dàjūn (Classical Chinese conventional)
Great lord or prince; deeper lexical components.. Great lord or prince; deeper lexical components.
No secure word-specific date — The inspected lexical evidence for 大君 does not supply a secure dated witness for this displayed stage; contextual history and the date of an object or practice are not substituted.
Classical Chinese–Japanese–English diplomatic corridor — Supported language, speech, community or contact-corridor region; not a precise lexical birthplace.
The entry analyzes Japanese taikun as Chinese tai “great” plus kiun “lord.” tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Japanese taikun “great lord or prince” is reported as the title used for the shogun in foreign contexts. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
tycoon: an inspected specialist, institutional or national-language source supports the displayed forms and the selected conventional readings; reconstructed or historical readings remain explicitly qualified. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the map point is a supported language, speech-community or documented contact-corridor reference, not a precise lexical birthplace. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: lexical dates are retained only where the inspected record dates a form or sense; contextual object, cultural, institutional and biographical dates are not substituted for word chronology. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the route preserves competing analyses, qualified edges and semantic distinctions required by the inspected evidence. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: adjacent relations are retained with their existing type and certainty unless the inspected evidence requires a qualified or parallel reading. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
大君 · Japanese
noun · Japanese
Reading: taikun (Japanese)
A great lord; political title for the shogun.. A great lord; political title for the shogun.
No secure word-specific date — The inspected lexical evidence for 大君 does not supply a secure dated witness for this displayed stage; contextual history and the date of an object or practice are not substituted.
Classical Chinese–Japanese–English diplomatic corridor — Supported language, speech, community or contact-corridor region; not a precise lexical birthplace.
The entry analyzes Japanese taikun as Chinese tai “great” plus kiun “lord.” tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Japanese taikun “great lord or prince” is reported as the title used for the shogun in foreign contexts. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
English tycoon is reported from 1857 as a title given by foreigners to the shogun. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
tycoon: an inspected specialist, institutional or national-language source supports the displayed forms and the selected conventional readings; reconstructed or historical readings remain explicitly qualified. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the map point is a supported language, speech-community or documented contact-corridor reference, not a precise lexical birthplace. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: lexical dates are retained only where the inspected record dates a form or sense; contextual object, cultural, institutional and biographical dates are not substituted for word chronology. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the route preserves competing analyses, qualified edges and semantic distinctions required by the inspected evidence. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: adjacent relations are retained with their existing type and certainty unless the inspected evidence requires a qualified or parallel reading. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon · English
noun · English
Reading: ty-KOON
A title for the shogun of Japan.. A title for the shogun of Japan.
c. 1857 · English tycoon political title — Reported written-use context; not the date of coinage or transmission.
English lexical reference region (not origin) — Reference region for the English lexical stage; not a birthplace or borrowing point.
Japanese taikun “great lord or prince” is reported as the title used for the shogun in foreign contexts. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
English tycoon is reported from 1857 as a title given by foreigners to the shogun. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
The transferred English meaning “important person” is reported from 1861. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
tycoon: an inspected specialist, institutional or national-language source supports the displayed forms and the selected conventional readings; reconstructed or historical readings remain explicitly qualified. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the map point is a supported language, speech-community or documented contact-corridor reference, not a precise lexical birthplace. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: lexical dates are retained only where the inspected record dates a form or sense; contextual object, cultural, institutional and biographical dates are not substituted for word chronology. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the route preserves competing analyses, qualified edges and semantic distinctions required by the inspected evidence. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: adjacent relations are retained with their existing type and certainty unless the inspected evidence requires a qualified or parallel reading. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon · English
noun · English
Reading: ty-KOON
An important or powerful person.. An important or powerful person.
c. 1861 · English tycoon important-person sense — Reported written-use context; not the date of coinage or transmission.
English lexical reference region (not origin) — Reference region for the English lexical stage; not a birthplace or borrowing point.
English tycoon is reported from 1857 as a title given by foreigners to the shogun. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
The transferred English meaning “important person” is reported from 1861. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
The specific wealthy-businessperson use is reported as post-World War I. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
tycoon: an inspected specialist, institutional or national-language source supports the displayed forms and the selected conventional readings; reconstructed or historical readings remain explicitly qualified. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the map point is a supported language, speech-community or documented contact-corridor reference, not a precise lexical birthplace. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: lexical dates are retained only where the inspected record dates a form or sense; contextual object, cultural, institutional and biographical dates are not substituted for word chronology. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the route preserves competing analyses, qualified edges and semantic distinctions required by the inspected evidence. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: adjacent relations are retained with their existing type and certainty unless the inspected evidence requires a qualified or parallel reading. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon · English
noun · English
Reading: ty-KOON
A wealthy and powerful businessperson.. A wealthy and powerful businessperson.
No secure word-specific date — The inspected lexical evidence for tycoon does not supply a secure dated witness for this displayed stage; contextual history and the date of an object or practice are not substituted.
English lexical reference region (not origin) — Reference region for the English lexical stage; not a birthplace or borrowing point.
The transferred English meaning “important person” is reported from 1861. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
The specific wealthy-businessperson use is reported as post-World War I. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
tycoon: an inspected specialist, institutional or national-language source supports the displayed forms and the selected conventional readings; reconstructed or historical readings remain explicitly qualified. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the map point is a supported language, speech-community or documented contact-corridor reference, not a precise lexical birthplace. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: lexical dates are retained only where the inspected record dates a form or sense; contextual object, cultural, institutional and biographical dates are not substituted for word chronology. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: the route preserves competing analyses, qualified edges and semantic distinctions required by the inspected evidence. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
tycoon: adjacent relations are retained with their existing type and certainty unless the inspected evidence requires a qualified or parallel reading. word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context

Relationships

dàjūn → taikun: borrowing, qualified. The Japanese title is analyzed through Chinese components. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context

taikun → tycoon: borrowing, documented. English adopts the Japanese political title. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context

tycoon → tycoon: semantic-change, documented. The title becomes a general label for an important person. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context

tycoon → tycoon: semantic-change, documented. The status label specializes in wealthy and powerful businesspeople. tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history tycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context

Inspect the evidence 14 claims

Open a claim to follow the source and our interpretation.

01The entry analyzes Japanese taikun as Chinese tai “great” plus kiun “lord.”
Source
tycoon — EtymologyOnline Etymology Dictionarytycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The inspected etymology entry reports the selected forms, sense chronology and stated qualifications for tycoon; the journey preserves those limits and does not treat cultivation, object or technology history as lexical evidence.
tycoon(n.) · etymology and sense history
Qualification Qualified
The Chinese components are preserved as the deeper analysis reported by the source, not as a separate English donor stage.
What Lexography infers
Lexography selects this account for the named form or sense; wording and presentation are editorial.
Checked 2026-09-14. Linked source retains its copyright. Brief original factual paraphrases only; no full article redistributed.
02Japanese taikun “great lord or prince” is reported as the title used for the shogun in foreign contexts.
Source
tycoon — EtymologyOnline Etymology Dictionarytycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The inspected etymology entry reports the selected forms, sense chronology and stated qualifications for tycoon; the journey preserves those limits and does not treat cultivation, object or technology history as lexical evidence.
tycoon(n.) · etymology and sense history
Qualification Source-supported
The cited etymology section supports this bounded lexical statement; it does not establish every use, date or transmission event.
What Lexography infers
Lexography selects this account for the named form or sense; wording and presentation are editorial.
Checked 2026-09-14. Linked source retains its copyright. Brief original factual paraphrases only; no full article redistributed.
03Glottolog supplies the reference coordinates for Japanese.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row nucl1643
Source passage
Reference record
nucl1643 · Japanese · Latitude 35.0 · Longitude 135.0
LanguageTable row nucl1643; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
Language reference coordinates, not a word origin, borrowing site, historical territory or population distribution.
What Lexography infers
Use this point only to orient Japanese reference region; no historical movement is inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
04English tycoon is reported from 1857 as a title given by foreigners to the shogun.
Source
tycoon — EtymologyOnline Etymology Dictionarytycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The inspected etymology entry reports the selected forms, sense chronology and stated qualifications for tycoon; the journey preserves those limits and does not treat cultivation, object or technology history as lexical evidence.
tycoon(n.) · etymology and sense history
Qualification Source-supported
The cited etymology section supports this bounded lexical statement; it does not establish every use, date or transmission event.
What Lexography infers
Lexography selects this account for the named form or sense; wording and presentation are editorial.
Checked 2026-09-14. Linked source retains its copyright. Brief original factual paraphrases only; no full article redistributed.
05Glottolog supplies the reference coordinates for English.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row stan1293
Source passage
Reference record
stan1293 · English · Latitude 53.0 · Longitude -1.0
LanguageTable row stan1293; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
Language reference coordinates, not a word origin, borrowing site, historical territory or population distribution.
What Lexography infers
Use this point only to orient English reference region / Britain; no historical movement is inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
06The transferred English meaning “important person” is reported from 1861.
Source
tycoon — EtymologyOnline Etymology Dictionarytycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The inspected etymology entry reports the selected forms, sense chronology and stated qualifications for tycoon; the journey preserves those limits and does not treat cultivation, object or technology history as lexical evidence.
tycoon(n.) · etymology and sense history
Qualification Source-supported
The cited etymology section supports this bounded lexical statement; it does not establish every use, date or transmission event.
What Lexography infers
Lexography selects this account for the named form or sense; wording and presentation are editorial.
Checked 2026-09-14. Linked source retains its copyright. Brief original factual paraphrases only; no full article redistributed.
07Glottolog supplies the reference coordinates for English.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row stan1293
Source passage
Reference record
stan1293 · English · Latitude 53.0 · Longitude -1.0
LanguageTable row stan1293; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
Language reference coordinates, not a word origin, borrowing site, historical territory or population distribution.
What Lexography infers
Use this point only to orient English reference region / Britain; no historical movement is inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
08The specific wealthy-businessperson use is reported as post-World War I.
Source
tycoon — EtymologyOnline Etymology Dictionarytycoon — Etymology · etymology and sense history
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The inspected etymology entry reports the selected forms, sense chronology and stated qualifications for tycoon; the journey preserves those limits and does not treat cultivation, object or technology history as lexical evidence.
tycoon(n.) · etymology and sense history
Qualification Source-supported
The cited etymology section supports this bounded lexical statement; it does not establish every use, date or transmission event.
What Lexography infers
Lexography selects this account for the named form or sense; wording and presentation are editorial.
Checked 2026-09-14. Linked source retains its copyright. Brief original factual paraphrases only; no full article redistributed.
09Glottolog supplies the reference coordinates for English.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row stan1293
Source passage
Reference record
stan1293 · English · Latitude 53.0 · Longitude -1.0
LanguageTable row stan1293; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
Language reference coordinates, not a word origin, borrowing site, historical territory or population distribution.
What Lexography infers
Use this point only to orient English reference region / Britain; no historical movement is inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
10tycoon: an inspected specialist, institutional or national-language source supports the displayed forms and the selected conventional readings; reconstructed or historical readings remain explicitly qualified.
Source
tycoon — American Heritage DictionaryHoughton Mifflin Harcourtword history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The dictionary derives English tycoon from Japanese taikun, a title for the shogun, and analyzes the characters as great and prince/lord while dating the English political context to the mid-nineteenth century.
word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Qualification Source-supported
A conventional reading is not presented as an exact recording of every historical speaker; transliteration remains distinct from pronunciation.
What Lexography infers
Lexography records the strongest recoverable reading for each displayed stage without projecting a modern pronunciation backward.
Checked 2026-09-20 · revision Page or abstract inspected for lexical history, readings, sense chronology and qualifications. new
11tycoon: the map point is a supported language, speech-community or documented contact-corridor reference, not a precise lexical birthplace.
Source
tycoon — American Heritage DictionaryHoughton Mifflin Harcourtword history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The dictionary derives English tycoon from Japanese taikun, a title for the shogun, and analyzes the characters as great and prince/lord while dating the English political context to the mid-nineteenth century.
word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Qualification Qualified
Reference coordinates orient the language or contact corridor and do not assert a territorial boundary, donor village or origin site.
What Lexography infers
Lexography uses the strongest defensible regional precision available in the inspected evidence.
Checked 2026-09-20 · revision Page or abstract inspected for lexical history, readings, sense chronology and qualifications. new
12tycoon: lexical dates are retained only where the inspected record dates a form or sense; contextual object, cultural, institutional and biographical dates are not substituted for word chronology.
Source
tycoon — American Heritage DictionaryHoughton Mifflin Harcourtword history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The dictionary derives English tycoon from Japanese taikun, a title for the shogun, and analyzes the characters as great and prince/lord while dating the English political context to the mid-nineteenth century.
word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Qualification Qualified
Undated reconstructed or historical stages remain researched unresolved rather than receiving an invented date.
What Lexography infers
Lexography distinguishes attestation, documented use, sense attestation, bounded lexical periods and context.
Checked 2026-09-20 · revision Page or abstract inspected for lexical history, readings, sense chronology and qualifications. new
13tycoon: the route preserves competing analyses, qualified edges and semantic distinctions required by the inspected evidence.
Source
tycoon — American Heritage DictionaryHoughton Mifflin Harcourtword history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The dictionary derives English tycoon from Japanese taikun, a title for the shogun, and analyzes the characters as great and prince/lord while dating the English political context to the mid-nineteenth century.
word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Qualification Qualified
Shared characters do not by themselves establish borrowing direction or historical pronunciation; political-title history and business usage are separate semantic layers.
What Lexography infers
The narrative and topology are editorial representations of the evidence graph, not proof that every adjacent form is a direct parent.
Checked 2026-09-20 · revision Page or abstract inspected for lexical history, readings, sense chronology and qualifications. new
14tycoon: adjacent relations are retained with their existing type and certainty unless the inspected evidence requires a qualified or parallel reading.
Source
tycoon — American Heritage DictionaryHoughton Mifflin Harcourtword history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The dictionary derives English tycoon from Japanese taikun, a title for the shogun, and analyzes the characters as great and prince/lord while dating the English political context to the mid-nineteenth century.
word history; etymology and 1853–1857 historical context
Qualification Qualified
A displayed tree edge does not erase non-tree alternatives or convert cognacy, influence or comparison into direct borrowing.
What Lexography infers
Lexography preserves the current topology and records the evidence limits alongside each relation.
Checked 2026-09-20 · revision Page or abstract inspected for lexical history, readings, sense chronology and qualifications. new