also: しはす
noun
December; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
Traditional Japanese name for the twelfth month. In modern usage, it poetically refers to December, but historically it designated the last month of the lunar calendar (roughly late December to early February).
師走に入り、街は年末の慌ただしさに包まれている。
With the arrival of December, the streets are filled with the year-end bustle.
旧暦の師走は今の一月から二月にあたる。
The twelfth month of the old lunar calendar corresponds to January or February today.