noun
thin udon noodles (served chilled)
A type of Japanese noodle thinner than regular udon, typically served cold in summer with a dipping sauce.
夏になると冷や麦をよく食べます。
In summer, I often eat hiyamugi noodles.
冷や麦はそうめんより少し太い麺です。
Hiyamugi noodles are slightly thicker than sōmen noodles.
Compound of 冷や (hiya, 'cold') + 麦 (mugi, 'wheat'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name refers to chilled wheat noodles.