クビレズタ

also: クビレズタ

ク

ビ

レ

ヅ

タ

Meanings

noun

sea grapes; green caviar

usually written using kana alone

A type of edible green seaweed, Caulerpa lentillifera, often called 'sea grapes' or 'green caviar' in English. Commonly eaten in Okinawa and other regions.

See also: 海ぶどう (うみぶどう)

沖おき縄なわではクビレズタをよく食たべる。
In Okinawa, people often eat sea grapes.
クビレズタはプチプチした食しょっ感かんが特とく徴ちょうだ。
Sea grapes are characterized by their popping texture.

Kanji

括fasten, tie up, arrest
蔦vine, ivy

Related words

海うみ葡萄ぶどう
Synonym; 海葡萄 (うみぶどう) is another common name for the same seaweed, literally 'sea grapes'. クビレズタ is the standard Japanese name, while 海葡萄 is a more descriptive term.

Built from

くびれる+ツタ

Written forms

クビレズタ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this biological name. It is usually written in kana.
括れ蔦
- くびれづた
  Kanji spelling; rarely used. The reading くびれづた is the historical/etymological reading, but the modern common reading is くびれずた.
- くびれずた
  irregular kana usage
くびれずた
irregular kana usage
Hiragana spelling, also used.
くびれづた

Etymology

The name くびれずた likely derives from くびれ (constriction) + つた (ivy), referring to the constricted, grape-like shape of the seaweed. The exact derivation is uncertain.