noun
blinding substance thrown in eyes; act of throwing something at eyes to blind
Refers to sand, ash, or other material thrown into someone's eyes to temporarily blind them, or the act itself. Often associated with historical or martial contexts.
忍者は目潰しとして地面の砂を投げつけた。
The ninja threw sand from the ground as a blinding attack.
noun
eye poke; eye-gouging
In combat sports, a deliberate or accidental poke to the eye. Also used for the illegal act of gouging an opponent's eye.
See also: サミング
ボクシングで故意の目潰しは反則負けになる。
In boxing, a deliberate eye poke results in a disqualification.
A loanword from English 'thumbing', specifically referring to an eye poke in combat sports. 目潰し is the native Japanese term covering both the act of blinding with substances and eye pokes.
Compound of 目 (eye) and 潰し (crushing, destroying), from the verb 潰す (つぶす, to crush). Literally 'eye-crushing'.