godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
haul in hand over hand; pull in; reel in
Physical action of pulling a rope, line, or similar object toward oneself by repeatedly grasping and pulling.
漁師が網を手繰る。
The fisherman hauls in the net hand over hand.
ロープを手繰って船を岸に
We hauled in the rope and pulled the boat to shore.
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
trace back; retrace; unravel
Metaphorical use: following a sequence of events, memories, or connections backward, as if pulling a thread.
彼は記憶を手繰って、事件のあった日を思い出そうとした。
He tried to retrace his memories and recall the day of the incident.
歴史を手繰ると、この町の成り立ちがわかる。
Tracing back the history reveals how this town came to be.