noun
something cold; cold body
Refers to a cold object or a body that feels cold to the touch. Often used in contexts like touching a cold corpse or a chilled item.
彼の手は冷え物のように冷たかった。
His hand was as cold as a corpse.
noun
stomach cooler; cooling item for the stomach
Specifically refers to something used to cool the stomach, such as a cold compress or a chilled object placed on the abdomen. This usage is somewhat specialized and may appear in historical or medical contexts.
昔は熱を下げるために冷え物を腹に当てた。
In the past, people placed a cold object on their stomach to reduce fever.
Compound of 冷え (hie, 'coldness') + 物 (mono, 'thing'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word literally means 'cold thing'.