Charcoal ball - Tadon

Japanese: 炭団 - たどん

〘Noun〙① A black fuel made by solidifying charcoal or coal powder into a ball using seaweed or a fork and then drying it. It has a soft fire. It is used by burying it in the ashes of a brazier, kotatsu, or warmer. Tandon. Tandon Bosatsu. Tandon ball. [Season: Winter] ※Montokyoki - February 17, 1557 (Kōji 3) "The burning of the ashes from the incense burner and the burning of the tandon were examined, and a note was placed. Medicine was sent for the swelling." ※Hyōbanki and Yoshiwara Sanchōki Toki no Daito (1667) "This person is called tandon because he is black in colour." ② (Because of its similar colour and shape to ①) A mark of defeat in sumo's star rating system. By extension, to lose. ※The Woman Who Washes the Blue Demon's Loincloth (1947) by Ango Sakaguchi "But it was no good. In other words, it was a perfect flop."

Tan-don [charcoal pellets]

〘 noun 〙 = tadon (charcoal briquettes) ① ※ Shikawa Iriumi (before the 17th century) 4 "In June, they would make charcoal briquettes (tantons) , so they would crush the charcoal into powder."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 木炭粉や石炭粉を布海苔(ふのり)、角叉(つのまた)などで球状に固め、乾燥させた黒い燃料。火気が柔らかい。火鉢、こたつ、あんかなどの灰に埋めて使用する。たんどん。炭団法師。炭団玉。《季・冬》※言継卿記‐弘治三年（1557）二月一七日「并香炉灰之焼様、同たどんの焼様等尋之、注置之、腫物入薬遣之」※評判記・吉原讚嘲記時之大鞁（1667か）せきしゅ「此人をたどんといふは、いろの黒きゆへかといふ」② (その色と形が①に似ているところから) すもうの星取表で負けの印。転じて、負けること。※青鬼の褌を洗ふ女（1947）〈坂口安吾〉「けれどもダメ、つまり見事にタドンであった」