Literally 'alligator mouth'; used as a slang or colloquial term for an alligator, often in children's language or informal contexts.
I saw an alligator at the zoo.
temple gong
A flat, round metal gong hung at the entrance of a temple or shrine, struck to get the deity's attention. The shape resembles an alligator's open mouth.
That person has a big mouth, so if you tell them a secret it'll spread quickly.
I rang the temple gong at the entrance before praying.
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
Katakana spelling sometimes used for the 'alligator' sense or for emphasis.
Compound of 鰐 (wani, 'alligator') and 口 (kuchi, 'mouth'), literally 'alligator mouth'. The temple gong sense derives from its resemblance to an open alligator's mouth.