also: わりたけ
noun
split bamboo; bamboo slat
Refers to bamboo that has been split lengthwise into thin strips, used in crafts, construction, or as a material.
職人が割り竹を使って籠を編んでいる。
The craftsman is weaving a basket using split bamboo.
noun
noisy bamboo baton (Edo period night watch)
Historical implement: a bamboo pole split at one end and struck against the ground to make a clattering sound, used by night watchmen during the Edo period to signal their rounds.
江戸時代、夜回りは割り竹を打ち鳴らして火の用心を呼びかけた。
In the Edo period, night watchmen struck a split bamboo baton to call out 'Beware of fire!'
Variant without okurigana; still read as わりだけ but may be less common.
Variant without okurigana for the rare reading わりたけ.
Compound of 割り (wari, 'splitting', from verb 割る) + 竹 (take, 'bamboo'), with rendaku voicing take → dake. Literally 'split bamboo'.