弟おと

noun

younger brother (of an older brother); younger sister (of an older sister)

Archaic term for a younger sibling from the perspective of an older sibling of the same sex. In modern Japanese, 弟 (おとうと) is used for younger brother and 妹 (いもうと) for younger sister.

• 古こ語ごでは、兄あにから見みた弟おとを「おと」と呼よんだ。

  In classical Japanese, an older brother called his younger brother 'oto'.

noun

youngest child

Archaic noun for the youngest child in a family. This usage is obsolete; modern Japanese uses 末っ子 (すえっこ) or 末子 (まっし).

• 「おと」は末すえの子こを指さす古ふるい言いい方かたで、今いまはほとんど使つかわれない。

  'Oto' is an old word for the youngest child and is hardly used today.

prefix

young; younger; youngest; young and beautiful; cute

Archaic prefix indicating youth or junior status, sometimes with a nuance of beauty or cuteness. Found only in old compounds; not productive in modern Japanese.

• 「弟橘姫おとたちばなひめ」の「弟おと」は「おと」と読よみ、若わかい女じょ性せいを表あらわす接せっ頭とう語ごである。

  The '弟' in 'Ototachibana-hime' is read 'oto' and is a prefix meaning young woman.