うまのほね

Japanese

Alternative spelling
馬の骨

Etymology

From 馬(うま) (uma, “horse”) + の (no, “bone”) + 骨(ほね) (hone). Literally "bones of a horse".

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Zhanguoce, according to Japanese Wikipedia”)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) うまのほね [ùmá nó hónéꜜ] (Odaka – [5])
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟ma̠ no̞ ho̞ne̞]

Noun

うまのほね • (uma no hone) ^{←うまのほね (umanofone)?}

1. (derogatory) parentage (of a person, when it is unclear)

   どこの馬(うま)の骨(ほね)かわからない

   doko no uma no hone ka wakaranai

   of unclear parentage

   (literally, “horse bones of unclear origin”)