Tortoiseshell - Tortoiseshell

Japanese: 鼈甲 - べっこう

〘Noun〙① Turtle shell. The hard shell that covers the body of turtles. It is often used to refer to the shell of the soft-shelled turtle. In ancient times, it was highly valued for its medicinal properties. ※Engishiki ( 927 ), No. 37 "Miscellaneous medicines provided annually by various provinces, Kinai, Yamashiro province, 32 types, omitted, one piece of tortoise shell" [New Book of Tang - Geography, Volume 7]② Made by layering several pieces of taimai shell, a type of sea turtle , and compressing them with the addition of water and heat. Used as material for ornaments such as combs, hairpins , eyeglass frames, and cufflinks. In the early modern period, it was prohibited to use taimai shell as clothing accessories, so the word arose from the fact that it was evaded by being called taimai shell. ※Kanazoshi, Miyako Fuzoku Kan (1681), vol. 2: "The comb I wear for my memories is made of tortoise shell (abbreviated) and is worn on the head." ③ Another name for a long-form comb. In the early modern period, the highest quality combs were made of tortoise shell. ※Zappai, Suetsumuhana (1776-1801), vol. 1: "A long comb with a tortoise shell hanging down."

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

Japanese:

〘名〙① 亀(かめ)の甲。カメ類のからだをおおっている、堅い殻(から)。特に、鼈(すっぽん)の甲をさすことが多い。古く、薬用として珍重された。※延喜式（927）三七「諸国進年料雑薬畿内山城国卅二種〈略〉鼈甲一枚」〔新唐書‐地理志・七上〕② 海亀の一種である瑇瑁(たいまい)の甲を何枚か重ね、水と熱を加えながら圧縮して作ったもの。櫛(くし)、笄(こうがい)、眼鏡のつる、カフスボタンなど装飾品の材とする。近世、瑇瑁の甲を服飾品として用いることが禁止されていたため、これを鼈の甲と言いのがれたところから生じたことば。※仮名草子・都風俗鑑（1681）二「思ひ思ひのさし櫛は〈略〉亀甲(ベッカウ)、たいまひなり」③ 張形(はりかた)の異称。近世、最高級品は鼈甲で作られたところからいう。※雑俳・末摘花（1776‐1801）初「へっ甲を下かいへおとす長つぼね」

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