congratulations; felicitations; best wishes
A somewhat formal or literary noun for expressing congratulations or good wishes. Often used in set phrases like 寿ぎの言葉 or 寿ぎの品. The reading ことほき is obsolete.
See also: 寿
結婚の寿ぎとして、友人たちから花束が贈られた。
As a congratulatory gesture for the marriage, a bouquet was presented by friends.
新年の寿ぎを申し上げます。
I offer you New Year's greetings.
祝辞 specifically means a congratulatory speech or address, while 寿ぎ is a broader term for congratulations or felicitations.
Standard modern spelling. The kanji 寿 carries the meaning of congratulations and longevity.
Alternate spelling using 言 (word) and 祝 (celebrate), reflecting the original meaning of verbal congratulations.
The noun is formed from the native verb 寿ぐ or 言祝ぐ, “to celebrate or offer felicitations,” with the nominal ending ～ぎ.