下枝

From Old Japanese. A surface analysis may suggest a shift from 下(しも) (shimo, “down; lower”) + つ (tsu, genitive particle) + 枝(え) (e, “branch”), compare the development of 上総(かずさ) (Kazusa, from earlier かみつふさ (kami tsu fusa)). Alternatively, しず (shizu) may be related to the root of both 静(しず)か (shizuka, “quiet; still”) and 沈(しず)む (shizumu, “to sink”).

• IPA^(key): [ɕizɨe̞]

下枝(しずえ) • (shizue) ^{←しづえ (sidue)?}

1. lower branches of a tree

   Antonym: 上枝 (hotsue)