鎌
Meanings
sickle
A curved-bladed hand tool used for cutting grass, weeds, grain, and similar plants.
My grandfather cut the weeds with a sickle.
leading question; trick question; probing trap
Mostly used in the fixed expression 鎌をかける, meaning to ask in a way that tricks someone into revealing something.
See also: かまをかける
I tried to draw out the truth by asking him a leading question.
sickle-and-chain weapon; kusarigama
Abbreviation of 鎖鎌, mainly in contexts about historical weapons or martial arts; not a general everyday use of 鎌 by itself.
See also: 鎖鎌
In descriptions of weapons, 鎌 is sometimes used as an abbreviation for 鎖鎌.
spear with curved cross-blades; kamayari
Abbreviation of 鎌槍, a spear with curved side blades; a limited historical-weapon term.
See also: 鎌槍
In explanations of 鎌槍, it may be abbreviated as 鎌.
gooseneck tenon-and-mortise joint
Abbreviation of 鎌継, a technical carpentry/joinery term for a gooseneck-shaped joint.
See also: 鎌継ぎ
In woodworking plans, 鎌継 is sometimes abbreviated as 鎌.
noisiness
Archaic noun sense meaning noisiness or clamor; not a normal modern use.
In old usage, 鎌 can mean noisiness.
fish collar; part around a fish's gills
Usually written かま in food and fishmonger contexts; often used in dishes such as ブリのかま or かま焼き.
I grilled the yellowtail collar with salt.
Usage patterns
- 鎌で〈物〉を刈るto cut something with a sickle
I cut the grass with a sickle.
- 〈魚〉のかまを焼くto grill the collar (of a fish)
I grilled and ate the yellowtail's collar.
- 鎌を研ぐto sharpen a sickle
I sharpened the sickle before using it.
Expressions
- かまをかけるtrick into revealing the truth; ask a leading question