noun
A symbol used in Japanese writing to indicate repetition of the preceding character. Common examples include 々, ゝ, and ヽ.
「人々」の「々」は踊り字の一種です。
The 々 in 人々 is a type of iteration mark.
古文書では、踊り字がよく使われています。
In old documents, iteration marks are often used.
Compound of 踊り (odori, 'dancing') + 字 (ji, 'character'), from the visual resemblance of the mark to a dancing figure.