woman who was beautiful in her youth; faded beauty
Refers to a woman who retains traces of her former beauty despite age. Often used in a poetic or slightly old-fashioned way, comparing her to a cherry tree that blooms even after losing its leaves.
She was a celebrated beauty in her youth, and even now she has the charm of a faded beauty.
Standard kanji spelling. Literally 'old woman cherry tree', a poetic metaphor.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, sometimes used for readability.
姥桜 originally names cherry trees whose flowers appear before their leaves. 葉無し “without leaves” was associated punningly with 歯無し “without teeth,” evoking an 姥; the name was then applied figuratively to an older woman retaining traces of beauty.