small cedar
Archaic abbreviation; in modern Japanese, 小杉 is primarily a surname or place name. The literal meaning 'small cedar' is not in common use.
thin Japanese paper (Edo-period tissue)
Historical term; an abbreviation of 小杉原. Refers to a type of thin paper used as tissue during the Edo period. Not used in modern daily life.
See also: 小杉原
In old documents, 小杉 appears as an old abbreviation for a small cedar tree.
During the Edo period, a thin Japanese paper called 小杉 was used as a tissue.
thin Japanese paper (Edo-period tissue)
Standard kanji spelling for both senses.
The word is a compound of 小 (small) and 杉 (cedar). The paper sense is an abbreviation of 小杉原, a place name associated with paper production.