なう

な

う

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Specifically refers to twisting fibers together to make rope or cord; a traditional craft term.

は

麻あさ

を

なっ

て

生せい

活かつ

に

使つか

う

紐ひも

を

作つく

っ

た

。

People in the past twisted hemp to make cords for daily use.

なうUsage63%
Usually written in kana; the kanji 綯う is rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
綯なうUsage38%
Rare kanji spelling; usually written in kana.

編あむ
編む means to knit or braid, often with multiple strands, while なう specifically means twisting fibers into a single strand or rope.
縒よる
縒る also means to twist threads or fibers, but なう is more strongly associated with traditional rope-making from plant fibers.

The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese verb traditionally used in the context of rope-making.