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ニシキウズガイ (にしきうずがい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ニシキウズガイ

Meanings

1

noun

maculated top shell

usually written using kana alone

A species of sea snail, Trochus maculatus. Used in biology and shell collecting.

ニシキウズガイは潮ちょう間かん帯たいの岩いわ場ばで見みられる。
The maculated top shell can be found on rocky shores in the intertidal zone.

Written forms

ニシキウズガイ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name.
錦にしき渦うず貝がい
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.

Kanji

錦brocade, fine dress, honors
渦whirlpool, eddy, vortex
貝

shellfish

Etymology

The name ニシキウズガイ (錦渦貝) literally means 'brocade whirlpool shell', referring to the shell's patterned, spiraled appearance. The exact derivation is uncertain.