steel trap; foothold trap; bear trap
A strong, spring-loaded trap with metal jaws, used for catching wild animals by the leg. Often associated with trapping bears or boars in rural Japan.
Setting steel traps in the mountains is prohibited by law.
In the past, hunters used bear traps to catch bears.
Katakana spelling is common and matches usual-kana usage.
Hiragana spelling is also used, though katakana is more typical for this tool name.
Kanji spelling exists but is uncommon; the word is usually written in kana.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; also rare compared to kana forms.
Compound of 虎 (tora, 'tiger') and 挟み (hasami, 'pincers, trap'), literally 'tiger trap'. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely refers to the trap's strength, capable of holding a large animal like a tiger.