tooth blackening; ohaguro
Historical practice in Japan, especially among married women and aristocrats, of dyeing teeth black using a solution of iron filings and vinegar. Now obsolete except in traditional performances or historical contexts. Often referred to as お歯黒 in modern Japanese.
See also: お歯黒
In the Edo period, married women practiced tooth blackening.
歯黒は、鉄漿とも呼ばれる染料で行われた。
Tooth blackening was done with a dye also called 鉄漿.
Polite form with honorific prefix お, more commonly used in modern references to the historical practice.
Standard kanji spelling for the historical practice of tooth blackening.
Alternate kanji spelling, literally 'iron liquid', referring to the dye used. Less common than 歯黒.
Compound of 歯 (ha, 'tooth') and 黒 (kuro, 'black'), with rendaku voicing of くろ to ぐろ. The alternate spelling 鉄漿 literally means 'iron liquid', referring to the dye mixture.