noun
leaf or paper placed under a serving dish
A traditional Japanese practice of placing a decorative leaf, branch, or paper under food or offerings for aesthetic and sanitary purposes. Often used in kaiseki cuisine or Shinto rituals.
懐石料理では、料理の下に掻敷として紅葉が敷かれていた。
In kaiseki cuisine, autumn leaves were placed under the dishes as kaishiki.
神饌には必ず掻敷が用いられる。
Kaishiki are always used for Shinto offerings.
Compound of 掻く (kaku, 'to scratch, rake') + 敷く (shiku, 'to spread, lay'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but it likely refers to the action of spreading something under an object.