noun
cremated remains; ashes (esp. bones)
Honorific term used in Buddhist funeral contexts. Refers specifically to the bone fragments and ashes after cremation, often handled during the kotsuage ritual.
See also: 骨
火葬の後、ご遺族でお骨を拾いました。
After the cremation, the bereaved family gathered the cremated remains.
お骨はお墓に納められます。
The ashes will be placed in the grave.
遺骨 is a more formal, general term for remains of the deceased, while お骨 is specifically the honorific term used for cremated bone fragments in Buddhist rites.
骨 is the ordinary word for 'bone' in any context. Sense 3 of 骨 refers to cremated bones, but お骨 adds the honorific prefix and is the standard respectful term.
Honorific prefix お- + 骨 (bone). The reading おこつ is a standard honorific form; おほね is an irregular reading sometimes encountered but not standard.