うるけぢ

Old Japanese

Etymology

There are various theories regarding the ultimate derivation. The Jidai-betsu Kokugo Daijiten (Jōdai-hen) derive this as a compound of うるけ (uruke₂, possibly an attributive form of a verb; possibly cognate with おろく (oro₂ku, “to be faint; to be foolish”)) +‎ 鉤 (ti, “fishing hook”).

Other possibilities for the initial uruke₂- include:

• Shift from oroke 'disappointment'.
• Shift from 空け (utuke₂, “to become empty”)
• Shift from 愚か (oro₂ka, “foolish”)
• The ti is hypothesized to be something to be 'something to prevent it from sliding off', which also describes 鉤 (ti) well.

The kanji spelling associated with the word literally means 'foolish [and] stupid fishing hook'.

Noun

うるけぢ (uruke₂di)

1. (hapax) a word used by 山幸 (YAMASATI) and 海幸 (UMI₁SATI) to curse fishing hooks; a trash fishing hook

   Synonym: うるぢ (uruDI)

   • 720, Nihon Shoki:

     凡此贈答二首、號曰舉歌。海驢、此云美知。踉䠙鉤、此云須須能美膩。癡騃鉤、此云于樓該膩。[...] 及至將歸、海神乃召鯛女、探其口者、卽得鉤焉。於是、進此鉤于彦火火出見尊、因奉教之曰「以此與汝兄時、乃可稱曰『大鉤、踉䠙鉤、貧鉤、癡騃鉤。』

     These two stanzas, one sent, and one in reply, are what are termed age-uta. 海驢 is read mi₁ti, 踉䠙鉤 is read susuno₂mi₁di, 癡騃鉤 is read uruke₂di. [...] Though the Heavenly Grandchild may be divided from me by eight-fold windings (of road), I hope that we shall think of each other from time to time. Do not therefore throw them away.' And he taught him, saying:—'When thou givest this fish-hook to thy elder brother, call it thus:—'A hook of poverty, a hook of ruin, a hook of downfall.'