赤あか馬うま

noun

red horse

Literal meaning: a horse with a red or chestnut coat. This is the primary modern sense.

• 彼かれは赤あか馬うまに乗のって草そう原げんを駆かけ抜ぬけた。

  He rode a red horse across the grassland.

noun

menstruation (obsolete geisha slang)

Obsolete euphemism used historically by geisha. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 昔むかし、芸げい者しゃの間あいだでは「赤あか馬うま」が月げっ経けいを指さす隠いん語ごだった。

  In the past, among geisha, 'red horse' was a slang term for menstruation.

noun

fire; conflagration; arson (obsolete)

Obsolete term for fire or arson, possibly from the image of a red horse as a destructive force. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 古こ文ぶん書しょには「赤あか馬うま」が火か事じを意い味みする例れいが見みられる。

  In old documents, 'red horse' can be found as a term for a fire.