also: わらびて
noun
furled bracken fronds
Refers to the young, curled shoots of bracken fern, often used as a visual motif or in culinary contexts.
春になると、山で蕨手を摘むのが楽しみだ。
In spring, I look forward to picking furled bracken fronds in the mountains.
noun
design motif resembling furled bracken fronds
A decorative pattern inspired by the curled shape of young bracken shoots; often seen in traditional crafts, architecture, or sword fittings. Related to 蕨手刀 (warabite-tō), a type of ancient Japanese sword with a pommel shaped like a bracken frond.
See also: 蕨手刀
この古い刀の柄には蕨手の模様が彫られている。
The hilt of this old sword is carved with a warabite pattern.
Compound of 蕨 (warabi, 'bracken fern') and 手 (te, 'hand'), referring to the hand-like curled shape of young bracken shoots. The reading わらびで is a rendaku form of て.