hoe-shaped helmet crest
Refers to the decorative crest on traditional Japanese helmets, shaped like a hoe blade.
The hoe-shaped crest on the armor was an ornament that showed the dignity of the warlord.
stag beetle
Abbreviation of 鍬形虫. Usually written in kana (クワガタ or くわがた) in modern usage.
See also: クワガタムシ
In summer, I go to the mountains to look for stag beetles.
giant stag beetle; Dorcus hopei
Dorcus rectus (species of stag beetle)
sawtooth stag beetle; saw stag beetle
Veronica miqueliana (species of speedwell)
stag beetle
Miyama stag beetle
Standard kanji spelling for the helmet crest and, by extension, the beetle.
Katakana spelling is common for the beetle, especially in everyday and children's contexts.
Hiragana spelling is also used for the beetle, though katakana is more typical.
From 鍬 (kuwa, 'hoe') + 形 (gata, 'shape'), referring to the hoe-like shape of the helmet crest. The beetle sense is an abbreviation of 鍬形虫, named for the resemblance of its mandibles to the crest.