noun
one end of a palanquin pole; one of two palanquin bearers
Refers to one side of a palanquin carried by two people, or to one of the two bearers. Most commonly encountered in the idiom 片棒を担ぐ (to take part in something, often a scheme).
「片棒を担ぐ」という表現は、もともと駕籠を二人で担ぐことに由来する。
The expression 片棒を担ぐ originally comes from two people carrying a palanquin together.
彼はその悪事の片棒を担いだ。
He took part in that wrongdoing.