sleeve (of a kimono); pocket of sleeve
Primarily refers to the sleeve of traditional Japanese clothing, especially the deep hanging part that can function as a pocket. Also appears in the idiom 袂を分かつ (to part ways).
See also: 袂を分かつ
She took a handkerchief out of her kimono sleeve.
The two parted ways and walked separate paths.
Used in classical or literary contexts to refer to the area near a bridge. Rare in modern everyday speech; more commonly expressed with 橋のたもと or 橋のそば.
There was a small teahouse at the foot of the bridge.
foot of a mountain; base of a mountain
Literary or poetic term for the base of a mountain. In modern Japanese, 山のふもと is more common, but 山のたもと can appear in elevated writing.
A small settlement spread out at the foot of the mountain.
Standard kanji spelling for the kimono sleeve and related senses.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for the vicinity or foot-of-mountain senses where the kanji is less expected.
The kanji 袂 combines 衣 (clothing) and 夬 (a component suggesting parting or dividing), fitting the sleeve sense. The extended meanings 'vicinity of a bridge' and 'foot of a mountain' likely derive from the image of a sleeve-like area at the edge of a structure or landform. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.