also: うでき
crossarm; bracket; semaphore arm
A horizontal wooden or metal arm used in structures such as utility poles, railway signals, or semaphore telegraphs. The gloss 'blade' refers to the flat arm of a semaphore signal.
A bird is perched on the crossarm of the utility pole.
Railway semaphore signals indicate proceed or stop by the angle of the semaphore arm.
Standard kanji spelling for the primary reading うでぎ.
Alternate reading うでき is less common; learners should prioritize うでぎ.
Compound of 腕 (ude, 'arm') and 木 (ki, 'wood'), referring to a wooden arm-like projection. The reading うでぎ is standard; うでき is an older or less common variant.