noun
A common noun for accumulated dirt or grime, especially on the body or on surfaces that need cleaning.
爪の間に垢がたまっている。
Dirt has built up under my fingernails.
風呂でしっかり垢を落とした。
I washed off the grime thoroughly in the bath.
A broader word for dirt, stains, or soiling in general; 垢 often suggests accumulated grime.
Means mud specifically, while 垢 refers to dirt or grime rather than wet earth.
The historical derivation is uncertain here; the kanji 垢 is conventionally used for dirt, grime, or accumulated filth.