household sundries; household tools and utensils
Refers to everyday household items like brooms, dustpans, kitchen utensils, and other small domestic goods. Often used in the context of a 荒物屋 (hardware/houseware store).
近所の荒物屋でほうきを買った。
I bought a broom at the local household goods store.
台所の荒物を整理
I organized the kitchen utensils.
variety store; household goods store; sundries shop
The term 荒物 (あらもの) originally referred to coarse or rough goods, as 荒 can mean 'rough' or 'crude'. Over time it came to denote everyday household tools and utensils, likely because such items were traditionally made from rough materials like wood and bamboo. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.