netsuke

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: net=su=ke

CIDE DICTIONARY

netsuke, n. [Jap.].

 In Japanese costume and decorative art, a small object carved in wood, ivory, bone, or horn, or wrought in metal, and pierced with holes for cords by which it is connected, for convenience, with the inro, the smoking pouch (tabako-ire), and similar objects carried in the girdle. It is now much used on purses sold in Europe and America.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

netsuke, n. (pl. same or netsukes) (in Japan) a carved button-like ornament, esp. of ivory or wood, formerly worn to suspend articles from a girdle.

Etymology

Jap.