also: ひし
mid-ocean sandbank
Archaic term for a sandbank or shoal in the open sea; not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or literary contexts.
On old nautical charts, many shoals marked as '洲' can be seen.
Used when referring to a location or spot; this noun is not normally counted with a specific everyday object counter.
Archaic kanji form for a mid-ocean sandbank; the reading ひじ is the primary historical reading.
Alternate historical reading; both ひじ and ひし are archaic.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 洲 is conventionally associated with sandbanks or islets in water.