The meaning of the term is described as 'a verse in which a spirit dwells' by Masahide TAKASAKI based on his master Shinobu ORIKUCHI's opinion, about which we have talked above, but when we consider that the very term 'makurakotoba' came into existence after the medieval period, it is thought to be akin to a 'makura' (literally a 'pillow'), which means a preface, since it is positioned at the head of a poem.
語義については、高崎正秀が後に引く折口信夫の師説を援用して「魂の宿る詞章」と説明するが、既にふれたように、「枕詞」という用語自体が中世以降のものであることを考慮すれば、歌の一番初めに来るので、前書きの意味での「枕」に近いものと思われる。