yodan verb with 'ku' ending (archaic)
to hang oneself; to strangle oneself
Archaic verb for self-inflicted hanging or strangulation. Not used in modern Japanese; replaced by 首を吊る (くびをつる) or 自殺する (じさつする).
古語では「わなく」は自ら首を絞めることを指した。
In classical language, 'wanaku' referred to strangling oneself.
yodan verb with 'ku' ending (archaic)
to wring the neck; to strangle (someone)
Archaic verb for strangling another person or wringing a neck. Modern equivalents include 首を絞める (くびをしめる) or 絞殺する (こうさつする).
古文書には、罪人を「わなく」と記されている。
In old documents, it is written that criminals were 'wanaku' (strangled).
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 縊 is associated with hanging or strangling, and the reading わなく may be related to classical Japanese verb forms.