Rock-paper-scissors redux

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>"... '[R]oshambo' [is] the French name for the game."

Well, I don't know .... I didn't find this to be self-evident in my
previous inquiry .... Maybe I'll take another look.

>... I wonder what game "kurambo" is the French name for.

Apparently the dictionary form of this word is "kuro[n]bo[u]" (the "n" can
also be transliterated "m") as expected ("kuroi" = "black").

Breen's current on-line Japanese-English dictionary does not show the
translation "Negro" (although older dictionaries do), but rather
"dark-skinned person, well-tanned person" and of course also "stagehand (in
kabuki), prompter" (I suppose a person who traditionally is entirely
covered in black cloth?). It may be that this word is becoming obsolescent
as a racial term/slur.

I suppose the variant "kuranbo"/"kurambo" which I see here and there on the
Web may be influenced by "sakuranbo[u]" = "cherry"?

As "kuronbou" is to "kuroi"="black", so "akanbou" is to "akai"="red" ...
this means [not "person of a red-skinned race", not "well-sunburned
person", but] "baby" (cf. "akachan"). I guess maybe folks tend to be born
sort of red. (^_^)

Any expert, please correct my likely laughable misconceptions, as usual.

-- Doug Wilson


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