Definition of 土壇場 (どたんば)
どたんば
                        土壇場
どたんば
dotanba
Common word
noun
1.
last moment, eleventh hour(idiom )
2.
platform made of dirt used to perform executions (decapitations) in the Edo period(orig. meaning)
Other readings:
                どたん場【どたんば】
                Related Kanji
| 土 | soil, earth, ground, Turkey | 
| 壇 | podium, stage, rostrum, terrace | 
| 場 | location, place |