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First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean곰〯 (Yale: kwǒm), from earlier *고마〮 (Yale: *kwòmá), which survived into Middle Korean in the place name 고마〮ᄂᆞᄅᆞ (Yale: Kwòmánòlò). Related to Baekje金馬(*kəma/*kuma, “bear”) and possibly Japanese熊(kuma, “bear”).
Beyond Koreanic and Japanese, perhaps a regional Wanderwort also related to Old Chinese熊 (OC *ɢʷlɯm).