Survey Reports on the Etymology of the Japanese Word “KEIDENKI” which means a “Electrical Relay” in English

Abstract

Japanese word “KEIDENKI”, which means a electrical relay in English, has used from Meiji era. In French and English dictionary at 1729, a “relais” in French means “a fresh horse” in English. In “Electricity and Magnetism” writing by Fleeming at 1873, a electrical relay means “an instrument which retransmits the original signal from a fresh battery” on the Morse's telegraph. The etymology of the “KEIDENKI” is like as a electric relay, interestingly.