月代さかやき

noun

shaved pate; shaved crown of the head (for chonmage hairstyle)

Historical term referring to the shaved area on the top of the head from the forehead to the crown, as part of the traditional chonmage hairstyle worn by samurai and later by sumo wrestlers. The reading さかやき is a gikun (special kanji reading).

See also: ちょんまげ

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、武ぶ士しは月代さかやきを剃そっていた。

  In the Edo period, samurai shaved the top of their heads (sakayaki).

• 相撲すもうの力りき士しは今いまでも月代さかやきを剃そることがある。

  Sumo wrestlers still sometimes shave the top of their heads (sakayaki).