手底たなそこの玉たま

expression, noun

apple of one's eye

Rare literary expression meaning a beloved person or treasured thing. Cross-referenced with 掌の玉, which is a more common variant.

See also: 掌の玉

• 「手た底なそこの玉たま」は、掌たなごころの玉たまと同おなじく、最さい愛あいの者ものを指さす古こ風ふうな言いい回まわしである。

  手底の玉, like 掌の玉, is an old-fashioned expression for one's most beloved person.