also: のんの · のんのん
noun
Archaic children's word used to refer to divine or celestial beings, especially in old nursery language. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or literary contexts.
昔の子どもは、お天道様を「ののさま」と呼んだ。
In the old days, children called the sun 'nono-sama'.
「ののさま」は、仏様や神様を指す幼児語だった。
'Nono-sama' was a children's word for Buddha or God.
Common affectionate term for the sun; のの is an archaic children's equivalent.
The exact derivation is uncertain; it is an archaic children's word, likely a reduplicative or sound-symbolic formation used by caregivers to refer to sacred or celestial entities.