1. abbreviation of terms such as 株式 (stock) or 株券 (share).
E.g.: 株主 (shareholder)
2. stump; stubble; tree roots divided into several branches
E.g.: 株塊 (root mass), 株根 (tree roots), 守株 (waiting by a stump, lack of innovation)
3. privileges or qualifications for a profession or business that could be bought and sold for money during the Edo period
