あみぬみゃ : aminumya | define meaning

Origin debated.

Discussion

• Most works agree the term あみぬみゃ amunimya can be broken down into several parts. However, there is disagreement as to what those parts are. Proposals include:
  • A compound of the noun あみ【雨】 ame "rain" or あみ【天】 ami "heaven", the genitive-posessive particle ぬ nu, and the noun みゃ【庭】 mya "garden"
  • A compound of the noun あみ【雨】 ame "rain" or あみ【天】 ami "heaven", the genitive-posessive particle ぬ nu, and the noun みゃ【宮】 mya "shrine; palace".
  • A compound of the noun あみ【雨】 ame "rain; heaven", the nominalized verb ぬみ【飲み・呑み】 numi "drink, swallow", and the noun-forming suffix や -ya.
• The last proposal is considered likely given the similarity with the Aragusuku expression あみふぁい ami fai "rainbow" (literally "rain eater").