キ, ひめ, ひめ

princess

JLPT1 G7 S10 F1566

The element now appearing as (subject; retainer) was originally ?# as described in (confine in the jaw/mouth → confine). The addition of woman indicated a woman confined within a palace (compare ) → female palace slave. Via the intermediary sense of "courtly retainer," the character came to indicate a mistress, or court lady, and eventually a *princess*. *Honorific title for a woman of high rank* is by association.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]