noun
Archaic reading for 肉, used in classical Japanese and some fixed expressions. In modern Japanese, 肉 is normally read にく. This reading survives in words like ししおどし (deer scarer) and in poetic or historical contexts.
See also: 肉 (にく)
古語では、獣の肉を「しし」と呼んだ。
In classical Japanese, the flesh of beasts was called 'shishi'.
「ししおどし」の「しし」は獣肉を意味する。
The 'shishi' in 'shishiodoshi' means animal flesh.
The modern standard reading for 肉, used in everyday language for meat, flesh, and related concepts. しし is an archaic reading preserved mainly in historical or poetic contexts.
The reading しし is the older native Japanese word for animal flesh, predating the Sino-Japanese reading にく. It is now largely obsolete except in certain compound words and classical references.