noun
ball of fire; mass of flames; body engulfed in flames
Describes something or someone completely on fire, often used in dramatic or news contexts.
車が火だるまになった。
The car became a ball of fire.
彼は火だるまになりながらも逃げ出した。
He ran out even as his body was engulfed in flames.
Compound of 火 (hi, 'fire') and 達磨 (daruma, 'Daruma doll'), from the image of a round Daruma doll completely covered in flames.