noun
fulling block; beating block for cloth
A traditional wooden or stone block used to beat and soften cloth. Often associated with historical textile processing.
昔、人々は砧で布を打って柔らかくした。
In the past, people beat cloth on a fulling block to soften it.
この地域では、砧を使った伝統的な布の仕上げ方が残っている。
In this region, a traditional method of finishing cloth using a fulling block remains.
The word きぬた is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 砧 is a kokuji (Japanese-made character) combining 石 (stone) and 占 (to occupy/divine), reflecting its use as a stone block for beating cloth.