1.
tadpole; pollywog
The aquatic larval stage of a frog or toad, with a round body and tail but no legs.
2.
musical note (informal)
A playful colloquial term for the round-headed notes on a musical staff, which resemble tadpoles.
Literally "little お玉 (ladle) + じゃくし (ladle/dipper)." The shape of a tadpole resembles a small ladle. The kanji form 御玉杓子 exists but the kana form is standard.
Common collocations
- おたまじゃくしを捕まえる: to catch tadpoles
- おたまじゃくしから蛙になる: to grow from tadpole to frog
- 楽譜のおたまじゃくし: musical notes on a score (sense 2)
Sense note
Sense 2 is informal/childlike, often used by people who can't read music or by music teachers speaking to children. It refers to the round notehead shape.