also: やたば
arrow length
Refers to the length of an arrow, typically in archery contexts. The reading やつか is standard; やづか and やずか are variant readings, with やずか noted as irregular kana usage.
In kyudo, it is important to use arrows that match your arrow length.
bundle of arrows
Only with reading やたば
Refers to a bundle or sheaf of arrows. This sense is restricted to the reading やたば.
In picture scrolls from the Warring States period, foot soldiers carrying bundles of arrows are depicted.
Standard kanji spelling for the arrow-length sense; also used for the bundle sense with reading やたば.
Kana spelling for the bundle-of-arrows sense, which is restricted to this reading.
From 矢, “arrow,” and 束, an old unit based on the breadth of four fingers. 矢束 denoted an arrow’s length measured in such units and also came to mean a bundle of arrows.