noun
nightingale floor; squeaking floor
A traditional Japanese floor designed to chirp like a nightingale when walked on, used as a security measure in castles and temples.
京都の二条城には有名な鶯張りの廊下がある。
Nijo Castle in Kyoto has a famous nightingale floor corridor.
鶯張りは、歩く
A nightingale floor is designed to make a squeaking sound when walked on.
Compound of 鶯 (uguisu, 'nightingale') and 張り (hari, 'stretching, laying'), referring to the floor's bird-like chirping sound. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the technique is associated with Edo-period castle architecture.