延長
えんちょう · enchou · JLPT N2 · noun
extension
📏 延長 = stretch + long: stretch something to make it longer
延 means to stretch out or delay, and 長 means long, so 延長 is stretching something longer. You will see it in 延長コード (extension cord) and in sports for overtime or extra innings.
延 — 廴 (long stride) + 㥯/丿 + 止 (foot)
延 originally depicted a foot (止) on a road or path (廴), suggesting walking a long way. From this came the meanings 'to extend,' 'to prolong,' and 'to delay.' The modern form retains 廴 on the left as the semantic clue for movement and extension.