noun
congratulations; felicitations; best wishes
A somewhat formal or literary noun for expressing congratulations or good wishes. Often used in set phrases like 寿ぎの言葉 or 寿ぎの品. The reading ことほき is obsolete.
See also: 寿
結婚の寿ぎとして、友人たちから花束が贈られた。
As a congratulatory gesture for the marriage, a bouquet was presented by friends.
新年の寿ぎを申し上げます。
I offer you New Year's greetings.
Alternate spelling using 言 (word) and 祝 (celebrate), reflecting the original meaning of verbal congratulations.
Derived from the verb 言祝ぐ (ことほぐ), meaning 'to congratulate' or 'to celebrate with words'. The kanji 寿 (longevity, congratulations) and 祝 (celebrate) are used for their meanings. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word.