throwing stone; sling stone; slingshot pellet; pebble
Refers to a small stone used as a projectile, especially for throwing by hand or with a sling/slingshot. Can also mean the slingshot itself in some contexts, but the primary meaning is the stone.
The children picked up throwing stones by the river and played by throwing them.
In ancient battles, sling stones were used as weapons.
Commonly used spelling; the kanji 石 (stone) plus kana つぶて makes the reading clear.
Rare kanji spelling using 礫 (pebble); not commonly encountered.
Compound of 石 (ishi, 'stone') and つぶて (tsubute, 'throwing stone'). The origin of つぶて is uncertain, but it may be related to 粒 (tsubu, 'grain') or an old verb meaning 'to throw'.