English word origin

Etymology of Anzu

Learned borrowing from Sumerian 𒀭𒉎𒂂𒄷 (AN.IM.DUGUD^(MUŠEN) /⁠Anzû⁠/, “a mythical dragon-like bird”), origin unknown, perhaps from 𒀭 (An, “heaven”) + 𒍪 (zu, “to know”).

1 source sectionExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 1 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology

Original entry ↗

name

A divine storm-bird in several Mesopotamian religions. · Certain depictions of lion-headed eagles in Sumerian art.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Learned-borrowing mention𒀭𒉎𒂂𒄷sux · a mythical dragon-like bird

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "lbor",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "sux",
        "3": "𒀭𒉎𒂂𒄷",
        "tr": "AN.IM.DUGUD^(MUŠEN)",
        "ts": "Anzû",
        "t": "a mythical dragon-like bird"
      },
      "expansion": "Learned borrowing from Sumerian 𒀭𒉎𒂂𒄷 (AN.IM.DUGUD^(MUŠEN) /⁠Anzû⁠/, “a mythical dragon-like bird”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "unk",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "unknown"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "𒀭𒉎𒂂𒄷",
      "𒀭𒉎𒂂𒄷#Sumerian"
    ],
    [
      "𒀭",
      "𒀭#Sumerian"
    ],
    [
      "𒍪",
      "𒍪#Sumerian"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "name",
      "glosses": [
        "A divine storm-bird in several Mesopotamian religions.",
        "Certain depictions of lion-headed eagles in Sumerian art."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "b3423f6a8b0bae58b46e7231778291b0ab9b870573ea771e8aded893a75a1306",
      "rawRecordSha256": "63c7ccf3657af1169bcaa1bb8aa74ae816564ac56933ee57826d7cb636f31ebe",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 4913137
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for Anzu →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-QW56dQ