noun
traditional Japanese handball; temari ball
Refers both to the game and the decorative thread ball used in it. Often associated with children's play and traditional crafts.
祖母が作った手まりは、色とりどりの糸で美しく飾られている。
The temari ball my grandmother made is beautifully decorated with colorful threads.
昔の子どもたちは、手まりをついて遊んだ。
Children in the old days played by bouncing a temari ball.
A general term for a ball, often made of wound thread or stuffed cloth. 手まり specifically refers to the traditional decorative handball and the game played with it.
Compound of 手 (hand) and まり (ball). The exact origin of まり is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb まる (to round) or an old word for a round object.