もずのはやにえ

Meanings

shrike's impaled prey

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the behavior of shrikes (百舌/モズ) impaling prey on thorns or twigs to store for later eating. Often used in nature contexts or as a metaphor.

庭にわの木きにモズのはやにえを見みつけた。
I found a shrike's impaled prey on a tree in the garden.
もずのはやにえは、冬ふゆの食しょく料りょう確かく保ほのための行こう動どうだ。
The shrike's impaling of prey is a behavior to secure food for winter.

Kanji

百hundred
舌tongue, reed, clapper
速quick, fast
贄offering, sacrifice

Related words

モズ
The bird itself (bull-headed shrike). もずのはやにえ is the specific phenomenon of its impaled prey.
はやにえ
The impaled prey itself; can be used alone but もずのはやにえ is the full common phrase.

Written forms

モズのはやにえ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling for the bird name モズ, sometimes used in field guides or for emphasis.
百舌もずのはやにえ
Kanji spelling using 百舌 for もず; rare and mainly literary or scientific.
百舌もずの速はや贄にえ
Alternate kanji spelling with 速贄; very rare.

Etymology

Compound of もず (百舌, shrike) + の (possessive particle) + はやにえ (速贄, early/immediate offering, referring to prey impaled for later). The exact origin of はやにえ is uncertain, but it describes the shrike's habit of storing food.