noun
falsified severed head
Historical term referring to a fake severed head, often used in the context of samurai warfare to claim a kill or deceive an enemy. Rare in modern usage outside historical or period fiction.
戦国時代には、贋首を使って戦功を偽る者もいた。
During the Warring States period, some people used falsified severed heads to fake battle achievements.
Compound of 贋 (にせ, 'counterfeit') and 首 (くび, 'head'). The reading にせくび follows standard rendaku rules. The term is historically associated with samurai culture and battlefield customs.