こつりつ

also: ごつりつ

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

towering; standing tall and alone

usually written using kana alonerare term

Describes something that rises high and stands out conspicuously, often with a sense of solitary prominence. Rare literary term.

その山やまは平へい野やにこつりつとそびえている。
The mountain towers alone over the plain.

2

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

standing motionlessly; standing still and alone

usually written using kana alonerare term

Used for a person or figure standing still and solitary, often with a nuance of quiet dignity or isolation. Rare literary term.

彼かれは門もんの前まえにこつりつと立たっていた。
He stood motionlessly in front of the gate.

Written forms

ごつりつ
Rare voiced variant reading.
兀立
- こつりつ
  Rare kanji form; the character 兀 is uncommon and may not display correctly on all devices.
- ごつりつ

Kanji

兀high & level, lofty, bald
立stand up, rise, set up

Similar words

そびえる
そびえる is a common verb for towering (mountains, buildings), while こつりつ is a rare literary noun/suru-verb emphasizing solitary prominence.
屹きつ立りつ
屹立 (きつりつ) also means towering steeply, but is more common and often used for mountains; こつりつ is rarer and can apply to people standing still.

Etymology

The kanji 兀 means 'high and level' or 'towering', and 立 means 'stand'. The reading こつりつ is the on'yomi; the voiced variant ごつりつ is rare. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a Sino-Japanese compound.