イワシ

Japanese

For pronunciation and definitions of イワシ – see the following entry.

【鰯いわし】J [noun] [from 756] a pilchard (especially a Japanese pilchard) (Sardinops melanostictus) [noun] [unknown] Japanese sardine [noun] [from 1747] an uncut sword [noun] [from c. 1310] on the night of the Setsubun, a pilchard is placed at the entrance along with a 柊 (hīragi, “Osmanthus heterophyllus”) to ward off evil spirits [noun] [from 1892] (slang, used by criminals) a prison guard Alternative spellings 鰮, 鰛

(This term, イワシ (iwashi), is the katakana spelling of the above term.)