also: しいさあ · しーしー · しし
noun
Okinawan guardian lion statue
A traditional Okinawan talisman, often placed in pairs at entrances or on rooftops to ward off evil spirits. Compare with mainland 獅子 (shishi).
See also: 獅子
沖縄の家の屋根にはシーサーがよく置かれている。
Shisa statues are often placed on the roofs of Okinawan houses.
お土産に小さなシーサーを買った。
I bought a small shisa as a souvenir.
From Okinawan, ultimately derived from the same source as Japanese 獅子 (shishi, 'lion'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.