also: とかり
noun
long-handled spear; lance; pike
Refers to a traditional or historical polearm, especially a long-handled spear associated with ancient China or premodern warfare. The ordinary modern word for a spear is often 槍 read やり.
兵士は長い矛を構えた。
The soldier readied a long spear.
壁には古い矛と盾が飾られていた。
An old spear and shield were displayed on the wall.
noun
Only with reading ほこ
A broader use meaning weapons or armed force, often felt in set or literary expressions such as 矛を収める, 'to lay down arms.'
王は矛を収め、隣国と和議を結んだ。
The king laid down arms and made peace with the neighboring country.
両軍は国境で矛を交えた。
The two armies clashed at the border.
noun
grip of a bow
Only with reading ほこ
Rare technical use for the part of a bow that is held. Modern readers are more likely to need this for recognition in specialist or older archery-related descriptions.
古い弓術の説明では、弓の握る部分を矛と呼ぶことがある。
In old archery explanations, the part of the bow that is gripped may be called hoko.
noun
spear-decorated parade float
Only with reading ほこ
Abbreviation of 矛山車, a festival float decorated with long-handled spears or spear-like ornaments. In festival contexts the spelling 鉾 is also very natural.
See also: 矛山車
祇園祭では、豪華な鉾が通りを巡行する。
At the Gion Festival, ornate spear-decorated floats parade through the streets.
Rare spelling connected with an ancient polearm; 戟 is more commonly read げき in Sino-Japanese contexts.
Rare attested spelling for the weapon sense; 鋒 is often encountered with other readings and meanings such as a blade point.
Attested alternate reading restricted to 鋒; mainly useful for recognizing rare or historical text.
Rare variant spelling; included for lookup rather than recommended everyday use.
Attested as a ほこ spelling, but 槍 is normally read やり and means spear in ordinary modern Japanese.
The everyday modern word for a spear; 矛 is more historical or traditional, and 槍 read ほこ is not the normal reading.
A general word for weapon. 矛 can mean a specific polearm, or 'arms' in more set or literary expressions.
A general festival float. 矛 or 鉾 in the float sense refers specifically to a spear-decorated type or an abbreviation of 矛山車.
ほこ is a native Japanese word for a spear or polearm; the exact historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji spellings 矛, 鉾, 戈, 戟, and related variants are conventionally associated with spear-like or ancient weapons rather than proving a single historical origin.