ももんじい

noun

large game animal

Archaic term for large hunted animals such as deer or boar. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 昔むかしの猟りょう師しは、ももんじいを追おって山やまに入はいった。

  Hunters of old went into the mountains in pursuit of large game.

noun

speaking ill of someone

Archaic noun meaning slander or badmouthing. Extremely rare; modern equivalents include 悪口 or 陰口.

• 古こ文ぶん書しょには「ももんじい」を言いうなと戒いましめる記き述じゅつがある。

  Old documents contain admonitions not to speak ill of others.

noun

squirrel-like costume for scaring children

Archaic term for a disguise or costume resembling a squirrel, used to frighten children. Historical and no longer in common use.

• 祭まつりの夜よる、大人おとながももんじいの衣い装しょうを着きて子こどもを驚おどろかせたという。

  It is said that during festival nights, adults wore a squirrel-like costume to scare children.