山やま言こと葉ば

noun

mountain language; euphemisms used by hunters and woodsmen in the wild

Refers to a set of taboo-avoidance terms traditionally used by hunters, lumberjacks, and other mountain workers. These euphemisms replace words considered unlucky or dangerous to say aloud in the wilderness. The literal gloss 'mountain language' is a direct translation.

• 山やま言こと葉ばでは、熊くまのことを「おやじ」と呼よぶことがある。

  In mountain language, a bear is sometimes called 'oyaji' (old man).

• 猟りょう師したちは山やま言こと葉ばを使つかって、獲え物ものに気きづかれないように話はなした。

  The hunters used mountain language to talk without alerting the game.