also: ずわえ · すわい · ずわい
noun
Archaic term for a long, thin, flexible branch or shoot of a tree, often used as a switch.
昔の人は、楚を折って鞭の代わりに使った。
In the old days, people would break off a switch and use it as a whip.
noun
switch; cane; rod for flogging
Archaic term for a switch or cane used specifically for punishment or flogging.
罪人は楚で打たれた。
The criminal was beaten with a switch.
Voiced variant of すわい; restricted to 楚; archaic.
Variant kanji form; extremely rare.
Variant kanji form; extremely rare.
Voiced variant reading; also archaic.
Alternate reading restricted to the 楚 kanji; archaic.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 楚 is conventionally associated with a slender branch or switch in classical contexts.