traditional Japanese scissors; U-shaped scissors
Refers to Japanese-style scissors with a U-shaped spring handle, used without finger holes. Often contrasted with Western-style scissors (洋鋏).
See also: 握り鋏
和鋏は握り鋏とも呼ばれ、指を入れる穴がない。
Japanese scissors, also called nigiri-basami, have no finger holes.
この和鋏は切れ味が良く、布がすっと切れる。
These traditional scissors are sharp and cut through fabric smoothly.
Compound of 和 (wa, 'Japanese') and 鋏 (hasami, 'scissors'), with rendaku voicing giving ばさみ. The exact historical origin of the U-shaped design is uncertain.