It has been suggested that the name "muchikake" originated because the pegs were used on which to hang whips (muchi), and it has also been said that they were used on which to hang bundles of rice for offerings to Shinto kami but it is not certain what they were used for.
鞭懸という名称はこれに鞭を懸けたものであろうというのから出たとも、御饌料のイネ束などを懸けたものかともいうが、明確でない。