also: しちだね
noun
article for pawning; pawned item
Refers to an item left at a pawnshop as collateral for a loan.
彼は時計を質草にして金を借りた。
He pawned his watch and borrowed money.
質草がなければ質屋でお金を借りられない。
You can't borrow money at a pawnshop without an article to pawn.
Alternate kanji spelling; also read しちだね.
Rare reading of the alternate kanji form.
Compound of 質 (しち, 'pawn') and 草 (くさ, 'grass; thing'), where 草 is used in the sense of 'material' or 'stuff'. The alternate form 質種 uses 種 (たね, 'seed; source') with a similar meaning.