yodan verb with 'ru' ending (archaic), intransitive verb
to cut down trees (in a mountain forest)
Archaic intransitive verb. In modern Japanese, the action is usually expressed with phrases like 木を切る or 伐採する. The related noun 木こり (woodcutter) survives.
Long ago, going to the mountains to cut down trees was called 'kiru' (樵る).