pocket-sized hanafuda; small hanafuda
Rare term for a compact deck of hanafuda cards, small enough to carry in a pocket. Cross-referenced with 小花 (こばな).
See also: 小花 (こばな)
旅先で遊ぶために、懐中花を持っていく人もいた。
Some people used to bring pocket-sized hanafuda to play while traveling.
Compound of 懐中 (かいちゅう, 'pocket') and 花 (はな, here referring to hanafuda cards). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose as a descriptive term for compact hanafuda decks.