boiling to death; execution by boiling in a cauldron
Historical punishment used during Japan's Warring States period. The term specifically refers to roasting or boiling a person in a large iron pot (釜). Compare with 釜茹で, which is a more general term for boiling in a pot.
See also: 釜茹で (かまゆで)
It is said that the punishment of boiling to death was carried out during the Warring States period.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical punishment term.
Variant kanji spelling using 熬; less common.
Compound of 釜 (kama, 'iron pot, cauldron') and 煎り (iri, 'roasting, boiling'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is associated with brutal executions in the Sengoku period.