noun

Archaism.
  1. setting off the night before one normally would have departed, traveling in a different direction, spending the night there, and leaving for one's destination in the morning (done to avoid traveling in an unlucky direction; a common practice during the Heian period).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
方違え かたたがえ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

direction, person, alternative
ホウ かた なた (2nd, N4)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
ten thousand, 10,000
バン マン よろず (2nd, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
wrapping enclosure, wrapping radical (no. 20)
ホウ つつ.む (Kentei 1)
difference, differ
ちが.う イ たが.う (7th, N3)
tanned leather radical (no. 178)
イ そむ.く (Kentei 1)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
sit or stand astride(跨) variant