About
The character 杌 is a phono-semantic compound: the wood radical 木 (tree) indicates the meaning is connected to trees or wood, and the right-side component 兀 (wù) gives the pronunciation and also depicts a bare, cut-off shape, a stump. Its original meaning was a tree stump or a tree stripped of branches. Later, this developed into the sense of a simple, backless wooden stool, a low seat used in everyday domestic settings. The character also appears in the mythological term 梼杌 (Táowù), the name of a legendary vicious beast from early folklore, showing how the character links ordinary household language with classical myth.
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.