Yedo

1 9.9

An old name for Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, used before 1868

proper noun
/ˈjeɪdoʊ/

Archaic

: Yedo

The city's name was changed from Yedo to Tokyo in 1868.

Examples

During the Edo period, Yedo grew rapidly in both population and influence.
Many Westerners visited Yedo in the nineteenth century and wrote about its culture.
In the 19th century, Yedo was a bustling city.
Many historical texts refer to Yedo rather than Tokyo.
In the 17th century, Yedo was bustling with merchants and samurai from across Japan.
Many historical events took place in Yedo before it was renamed Tokyo in the late 1800s.
Yedo was known for its beautiful cherry blossoms that attracted visitors from distant lands.

Synonyms

Tokyo

vsYedo

243 1.0

The capital and largest city of Japan and its main business and cultural center

is an older name used mainly before the mid nineteenth century

Edo

vsYedo

3 8.8

The former name of Tokyo when it was Japan's capital from 1603 to 1868

is the older English name used chiefly before the mid nineteenth century

Tokio

vsYedo

Archaic

1 3.8

An older spelling of the name Tokyo, the capital city of Japan

is the older historical form used mainly before the mid nineteenth century

Yeddo

vsYedo

Archaic

9.9

An old English name for Tokyo, the capital city of Japan

is the older English name used chiefly before the mid nineteenth century

Surface Forms

Yedo main

Etymology

Yedo is an older Western spelling of the Japanese name Edo, which comes from the parts e and do meaning 'bay' and 'door', like a 'gate to the water'. That's why Yedo was the name for the old port city that later became Tokyo.