mikado

[ mi-kah-doh ]

noun

, plural mi·ka·dos.

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a title of the emperor of Japan.
2. (initial capital letter, italics) an operetta (1885) by Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan.
3. (initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a two-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.

mikado

/ mɪˈkɑːdəʊ /

noun

1. archaic.
   often capital the Japanese emperor Compare tenno

Word History and Origins

Origin of mikado¹

1720–30; < Japanese, equivalent to mi- exalted + kado gate, door (of the imperial palace)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mikado¹

C18: from Japanese, from mi- honourable + kado gate

Example Sentences

“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” said Laura Hureski, stretching out on a bench on the museum lawn in her flowing ivory mikado wedding gown one afternoon in August.

From New York Times

“The shells intended to make the world safe for democracy when fired through the cannon of the czar and the mikado,” A.J.

From New York Times

Other than preserving the word “mikado,” which it uses as a synonym for “ruler,” this production avoids any reference to Japan.

From Washington Post

Here, a cubist silk and cotton mikado blazer and tuxedo short would be fun even without the red waistband and bright blue collar.

From New York Times

Kami, k�′mi, n. a Japanese term for a lord, for any of the national gods, demi-gods, or deified heroes, or any of their supposed descendants, as the mikados and the imperial family.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• czar
• emperor
• king
• monarch
• shah
• sultan