寿

Kanji

 * 1) longevity; long life
 * 2) congratulations

Compounds

 * : life span
 * : celebration of longevity
 * : sushi
 * : God of Longevity
 * : long life
 * : natural life span
 * : New Year's greetings

Etymology 1
The shinjitai, or Japanese simplified form, of. From.

Noun

 * 1) years of age

Idioms

 * : to toast someone with a prayer for long life

Etymology 2
Nominalization of the of verb, itself an alteration of earlier root form kotohoku, a compound of.

The meaning shifted over time from to say something in prayer for a good outcome to a more general to say something favorable in hope for or upon a felicitous or auspicious occasion. From there, the meaning expanded to include long life.

This long life meaning was apparently already in use when the kanji was first imported and applied to this word.

Noun

 * 1) congratulations, felicitations
 * 2) something worthy of congratulations
 * 3) long life, longevity

Etymology 3
Nominalization of the of verb, itself an alteration of earlier root form kotohoku, a compound of.

Noun

 * 1) congratulations, felicitations
 * 2) something worthy of congratulations
 * 3) long life, longevity

Usage notes
The kotohogi reading does not appear to be as common as the kotobuki reading further above.

Etymology 4
Used as ateji for various names.