しゃちほこ立だち

also: しゃっちょこだち

しゃ

ち

ほ

こ

だ

ち

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

headstand

Literally 'shachihoko stand', named after the mythical carp-like creature on castle roofs. Refers to a headstand, often with legs straight up like a shachihoko.

Written forms

しゃちほこ立だち
Most common spelling; uses kana for the first part and kanji for 立ち.
鯱立ち
rarely-used kanji form
- しゃちほこだち
  Rare kanji form using 鯱 (shachi, mythical carp). Also readable as しゃっちょこだち.
- しゃっちょこだち
しゃっちょこ立だち
rarely-used kanji form
Rare variant with geminated consonant; also readable as しゃちほこだち.
しゃっちょこだち

Kanji

立stand up, rise, set up
鯱fabulous dolphin-like fish, killer whale, (kokuji)

Similar words

逆さか立だち
逆立ち is the standard word for 'handstand' or 'headstand', while しゃちほこ立ち is a more playful or figurative expression.

Etymology

From しゃちほこ (shachihoko, a mythical carp-like ornament on castle roofs) + 立ち (stand). The headstand posture resembles the upright shachihoko figure.