also: いかのふね
noun
cuttlebone
Refers to the internal shell of a cuttlefish, often used as a calcium supplement for pet birds or for polishing. The term literally means 'squid boat' due to its shape.
See also: イカの甲
インコのためにイカの舟を買った。
I bought a cuttlebone for my parakeet.
Synonym for cuttlebone; 甲 (こう) means 'shell' or 'carapace', while 舟 (ふね) means 'boat', referring to its shape.
Compound of イカ (squid/cuttlefish) and 舟 (boat), from the boat-like shape of the cuttlebone.