noun
black Noh mask for old man roles
A specific type of Noh mask, usually black, used for roles of old men. The term is technical and primarily encountered in the context of traditional Japanese theater.
能楽堂で黒式尉の面を間近に見た。
I saw a black Noh mask for old man roles up close at the Noh theater.
The term is composed of 黒 (black), 式 (ceremony/style) or 色 (color), and 尉 (old man), reflecting its use as a black mask for aged male characters in Noh. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.