(in Japan) an empty statue made of clay, put on a tomb as a funeral offering
Word origin
Japanese: clay ring
haniwa in American English
(ˈhɑːniˌwɑː)
nounWord forms: plural-wa
any of the terra-cotta models of people, animals, and houses from the Yayoi period of Japanese culture
Word origin
[1965–70; ‹ Japn, earlier faniwa, equiv. to fani red clay + wa wheel]This word is first recorded in the period 1965–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: T cell, genetic engineering, hired gun, red-eye, stun gun