noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
pitch-black; darkness
Classical poetic word for deep black or darkness, often used as a pillow word (makurakotoba) for night, dreams, or black hair. Rare in modern prose.
「ぬばたまの夜」は古典和歌でよく使われる表現だ。
'Pitch-black night' is an expression often used in classical waka poetry.
彼女の髪はぬばたまのようだと詠まれた。
Her hair was praised as being like jet-black jewels.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 射干玉 literally mean 'shoot-dry-jewel', but this is likely ateji (phonetic kanji assignment). The word is ancient and appears in the Man'yōshū.