noun
Japanese toad (Bufo japonicus)
Archaic term for the Japanese common toad; in modern Japanese, ニホンヒキガエル or simply ヒキガエル is used.
See also: 蟇
古い文献では、たにぐくは谷に棲む大きな蟇蛙として描かれている。
In old texts, たにぐく is depicted as a large toad living in valleys.
Compound of 谷 (たに, 'valley') and ぐく, an old word for toad (cf. 蟇/蟆). The exact origin of ぐく is uncertain.