noun
teething toy; teether; teething ring
A toy given to infants to help soothe gums during teething.
赤ちゃんに歯固めを渡したら、すぐにかじり始めた。
When I gave the baby a teething toy, they started chewing on it right away.
noun
tooth hardening meal; New Year's feast
A traditional meal eaten during New Year's celebrations, believed to promote strong teeth. Rarely used in modern contexts.
昔は、正月に歯固めの膳を用意する風習があった。
In the past, there was a custom of preparing a tooth hardening meal during the New Year.
Compound of 歯 (ha, 'tooth') + 固め (katame, 'hardening'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.