贋にせ首くび

noun

falsified severed head

Historical term referring to a fake severed head, often used in the context of samurai warfare to claim a kill or deceive an enemy. Rare in modern usage outside historical or period fiction.

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だいには、贋にせ首くびを使つかって戦せん功こうを偽いつわる者ものもいた。

  During the Warring States period, some people used falsified severed heads to fake battle achievements.