Dated word for the arm, especially the upper arm. In modern Japanese, 腕 is usually read うで and refers to the arm in general or skill. This reading かいな appears mainly in classical or literary contexts.
In classical Japanese, かいな referred to the arm, especially the upper arm.
「腕」を「かいな」と読むのは、現代ではほとんど見られない。
Reading 腕 as かいな is hardly seen today.
two-handed arm twist down
Standard kanji spelling for this dated word; also read うで in modern Japanese.
Kana spelling may be used to avoid confusion with 腕 read うで.
Rare alternate kanji; 腕 is overwhelmingly more common.
The historical derivation is uncertain; かいな is an older native Japanese reading for 腕, later largely replaced by うで in everyday use.