noun
Dated word for the arm, especially the upper arm. In modern Japanese, 腕 is usually read うで and refers to the arm in general or skill. This reading かいな appears mainly in classical or literary contexts.
古語では「かいな」は腕、特に上腕を指した。
In classical Japanese, かいな referred to the arm, especially the upper arm.
「腕」を「かいな」と読むのは、現代ではほとんど見られない。
Reading 腕 as かいな is hardly seen today.
Modern common reading for 腕, meaning 'arm' or 'skill'. かいな is its dated, literary counterpart.
The historical derivation is uncertain; かいな is an older native Japanese reading for 腕, later largely replaced by うで in everyday use.