法螺貝

Compound of 法螺 (hora, “boasting, bragging”) +‎ 貝 (kai, “shell, shellfish”).^[1][2] The kai changes to gai as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “relation to 哱囉#Chinese? are we sure that 法螺 is the true meaning and not ateji?”)

• (Tokyo) ほらがい [hòráꜜgàì] (Nakadaka – [2])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [ho̞ɾa̠ɡa̠i]

法(ほ)螺(ら)貝(がい) or 法螺貝(ホラガイ) • (horagai) 

1. a Triton's trumpet, Charonia tritonis
2. a horn made from a Triton's trumpet shell
3. by metaphor from the shape of the shell, a way of tying a man's obi

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary), as ホラガイ (horagai).

• 陣(じん)貝(がい) (jingai): a horagai shell horn used to signal troops