The story of 笵

norm, mold

笵 is composed of the radical 竹 (bamboo) and 氾 (flood, surround). 氾 means overflowing water, carrying the sense of surrounding or encircling. Originally, 笵 referred to a fence or barrier made of bamboo, extending to mean norm or standard. This meaning was later taken over by the character 範, and 笵 is now rarely used.