also: くわご
noun
Archaic term for silkworm; modern Japanese uses 蚕 (かいこ). The cross-reference to 蚕 confirms this is an older synonym.
See also: 蚕
昔の文献には「桑子」と書いて「くわこ」と読ませる例がある。
In old documents, there are examples where 桑子 is written and read as くわこ.
Modern standard word for silkworm; 桑子 is its archaic equivalent.
The kanji 桑 (mulberry) and 子 (child) combine to mean 'mulberry child', referring to the silkworm that feeds on mulberry leaves. The reading くわこ is the kun'yomi of 桑 plus 子; くわご is a voiced variant. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is now obsolete.