亀甲きっこう

noun

tortoiseshell

Refers to the shell of a tortoise or turtle, or the material made from it. Often used in compounds like 亀甲細工 (tortoiseshell work).

See also: 亀の甲

• この櫛くしは亀甲きっこうでできている。

  This comb is made of tortoiseshell.

noun

hexagonal pattern; honeycomb pattern

Abbreviation of 亀甲形. Describes a pattern of interlocking hexagons resembling a tortoise shell. Common in traditional Japanese design.

See also: 亀甲形

• 着き物ものの帯おびに亀甲きっこうの模も様ようが入はいっている。

  The obi has a tortoiseshell pattern.

noun

tortoiseshell bracket

Abbreviation of 亀甲括弧. Refers to the Japanese punctuation marks 〔 and 〕, which resemble a tortoise shell shape. Used in dictionaries and reference works.

See also: 亀甲括弧

• 辞じ書しょでは補ほ足そく説せつ明めいを亀甲きっこうで囲かこむことがある。

  In dictionaries, supplementary explanations are sometimes enclosed in tortoiseshell brackets.