tsuba
1
9.9
A metal guard on a Japanese sword that protects the hand and is often decorated
- noun
- /tsuˈbɑ/
- Specialized
:
tsuba
- The tsuba on this sword features intricate designs of cherry blossoms.
Examples
-
The things that are faked tend to be small and valuable—for example, tsuba sword hilts and the small netsuke containers hung from kimono sashes.
Blog text (10) -
He admired the craftsmanship of the tsuba, which was made of bronze and adorned with gold detailing.
-
As a collector, she carefully examined the tsuba to determine its authenticity and age.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A piece on a sword handle that stops your hand sliding onto the blade
focuses on the whole decorative hand guard rather than just a small part
basket hilt
vstsuba
1
9.3
A metal guard on a sword shaped like a small cage to protect the hand
is a flat decorative guard on Japanese swords rather than an enclosing basket
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tsuba comes from Japanese and literally means a 'hand guard' on a sword. Think of it as a small 'shield' at the handle that protects the hand and often shows the owner's style, which is why many tsuba are both useful and decorative.