虫むし売うり

noun

insect peddler

Archaic term for a street vendor who sold insects, especially fireflies and crickets, as seasonal pets or curiosities. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、夏なつになると虫むし売うりがホタルを売うり歩あるいた。

  In the Edo period, insect peddlers would walk around selling fireflies in the summer.