noun
whistling arrowhead cover; turnip-shaped arrowhead cover
A large, perforated, turnip-shaped cover made of Japanese bigleaf magnolia or paulownia, attached to an arrow so it whistles when shot. Used in traditional archery to drive off evil spirits. Abbreviation of 響目 (ひびきめ).
神社の儀式で、神職が蟇目を射て邪気を払った。
At the shrine ceremony, the priest shot a whistling arrow to drive away evil spirits.
蟇目は朴の木や桐で作られる。
The whistling arrowhead cover is made from Japanese bigleaf magnolia or paulownia.
Abbreviation of 響目 (ひびきめ), literally 'echoing eye'. The exact origin of the kanji 蟇 (toad) is uncertain, but may be related to the shape or sound.