射干玉ぬばたま

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.

• 「ぬばたまの夜よる」は古こ典てん和わ歌かでよく使つかわれる表ひょう現げんだ。

  'Pitch-black night' is an expression often used in classical waka poetry.

• 彼かの女じょの髪かみはぬばたまのようだと詠よまれた。

  Her hair was praised as being like jet-black jewels.