てふ

⟨to₂ ipu⟩ → /tepu/ → /tefu/ → */tewu/ → /teu/ → /t͡ɕeu/ → /t͡ɕoː/

Shift from classical phrase と言ふ (to ifu).

Compare 蝶 (tefu → chō, “butterfly”).

てふ or ちょう • (chō) ^{←てふ (tefu)?}

1. (archaic) Short for と言う (to iu): This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
   • 1205, Shin Kokin Wakashū (book 3 poem 175), text here (also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 2)

     春(はる)過(す)ぎて夏(なつ)来(き)にけらし白妙(しろたへ)の衣(ころも)ほすてふ天(あま)の香具(かぐ)山(やま)

     haru sugite natsu ki-ni-kerashi shirotae no koromo hosu chō Ama no Kaguyama

     (please add an English translation of this example)

   • c. 1005, Shūi Wakashū (book 11, poem 621; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 41)

     恋(こひ)すてふわが名(な)はまだき立(たち)にけり人(ひと)知(し)れずこそ思(おも)ひそめしか

     koi su chō waga na wa madaki tachi-ni-keri hito shirezu koso omoisomeshika

     (please add an English translation of this example)

てふ • (Tefu) 

1. a female given name

てふ or ちょう • (Chō) ^{←てふ (tefu)?}

1. a unisex given name