Word in haiku - sugara

Question

This is a well known haiku: Meigetsu ya Ike wo megurite Yo mo sugara

I cannot understand the meaning and grammatical form of "sugara". Is it from "sugaru" (to finish)? Why does it end in "a"?

Thank you. I could not find this word in my dictionary of Classical Japanese. — Ned, Apr 11 '17 at 01:44

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 10 '17 at 00:45

4

In this context, すがら roughly means "throughout". Therefore, 夜{よ}もすがら means something like "throughout the night" or "all night long".

So, the subject of the haiku was walking around the pond the entire autumn night.

answered Apr 10 '17 at 00:45

Blavius

1 Answers1