On the other hand, Japanese Wikipedia[1] says it was originally a 和製英語 (wasei-eigo/Japanese-invented English word): > ただしサラリーマン (salaryman) は元々和製英語であり、… 「サラリーマ

On the other hand, Japanese Wikipedia[1] says it was originally a 和製英語 (wasei-eigo/Japanese-invented English word): > ただしサラリーマン (salaryman) は元々和製英語であり、… 「サラリーマン」は和製英語であるが、後に欧米でも「"日本の"ホワイトカラーの会社員」を指す普通名詞（Salaryman）として浸透しつつある。 ("But "salaryman" is originally a Japanese-invented English word [...] Though "salaryman" is a Japanese-invented English word, it has subsequently spread throughout the West as a way of referring to Japanese white collar workers.") Though 大辞林 (one of the main dictionaries) does say "salaried man" in its definition, I'm not sure whether that proves that is the etymology (usually 和製英語 are noted differently but given that the term is used outside of Japan now they might just write it in a way that'd be understood even if it's not correct). [1]: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B5%E3%83%A9%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B5%E3%83%A9%E3%83%AA%E3...