Etymology unclear. One theory is that the word was an alteration of はふる(hafuru, “to throw over, to throw on”).[1] Another theory holds that the word came by extension from how a bird interlaces its wings across its back, leading to the current kanji compound of 羽(ha, “wing”) + 織り(ori, “weaving”).[1] Alternately, these kanji may be just ateji.[1]