鉾
halberd, arms, festival float
Readings
On'yomi
- ボウ
- ム
Kun'yomi
- ほこ
Meaning
鉾 centers on a long pole weapon with a blade, a halberd. The festival float sense is a specialized application where such a weapon shape is used decoratively.
Most common words using 鉾
- 蒲鉾かまぼこ
kamaboko; steamed seasoned fish paste, usu. in a semicylindrical shape on a strip of wood and sliced to go in soup, etc.
- 山鉾やまぼこ
festival float mounted with a decorative halberd
- 傘鉾かさぼこ
combined umbrella and halberd carried on floats in some festivals
- 筋蒲鉾すじかまぼこ
gristly fish paste (made of muscle, tendons, skin, etc.)
- 鯱鉾立ちさっちょこだち
handstand; headstand
Study
Etymology
鉾 combines 金 (metal) with 牟, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a metal-bladed pole weapon.
Meaning mnemonic
Metal 金 on the left and 牟 on the right: picture a metal halberd blade mounted on a long pole, ready for battle or a festival parade.
Reading mnemonic
For ボウ, imagine a bow (as in bow and arrow) tied to the halberd's shaft: bow -> ボウ, and the metal blade gleams.