Possibly depicts a type of ancient weapon with three points on it. Based on the original meaning "a type of weapon", now written as 戣. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Character Evolution
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeLate Shang~1100 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeMid Warring States~300 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWestern Han202 BC-9 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealJin266-420 ADClericalQin221-206 BCClericalXin9-23 ADClericalXin9-23 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalJin266-420 ADRegularModern
