砂すな子ご

noun

gold dust; silver dust

Refers to fine particles of gold or silver used in traditional crafts, such as lacquerware (蒔絵) or painting.

• 蒔まき絵えには金きんの砂すな子ごが使つかわれる。

  Gold dust is used in maki-e lacquerware.

noun

sand; grit

Dated term for sand or grit; modern Japanese normally uses 砂 (すな) instead.

See also: 砂 (すな)

• 昔むかしは「砂すな子ご」をすなと読よまず、すなごと呼よんで砂すなを表あらわした。

  In the past, '砂子' was read as 'sunago' and meant sand, not 'suna'.