八や雲くも

noun

thick clouds; many clouds

Archaic noun for a sky filled with many clouds, often used in classical poetry.

• 古こ歌かに「八や雲くも立たつ出雲いずも八や重え垣がき」とある。

  An old poem says, 'Many clouds rise—Izumo's eightfold fence.'

noun

classical Japanese poetry; waka

Archaic metonymic use: 'thick clouds' came to refer to classical Japanese poetry, especially waka, through poetic association.

See also: 和歌

• 「八や雲くも」は和わ歌かを指さす古ふるい言こと葉ばとして使つかわれた。

  'Yakumo' was used as an old term for waka poetry.