blaze marks on trees; trail marks cut into trees
Refers to marks cut into tree trunks with a hatchet or billhook to indicate mountain trails or boundaries. Often used in forestry and hiking contexts.
Blaze marks are cut along the mountain trail, so you can walk without getting lost.
Compound of 鉈 (nata, 'hatchet, billhook') and 目 (me, 'mark, eye'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term literally means 'hatchet marks'.