About
The character 棰 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 木 (wood) and the phonetic component 垂. It originally denoted a short wooden stick, such as a riding whip or club, used for striking or beating. Historically, its core meaning has centered on wooden implements for discipline or driving animals, though it can also function as a verb meaning to whip or flog, directly reflecting the action performed with such an object.
Etymology Hide
