Fabric weaving; Tying ("things"); The action of tying someone up; Since the evolution of shibari from tying techniques used solely for restraint and torture to sophisticated erotica has taken 100's of years to mature, it's natural that, for Westerners especially, the terminology can get a bit confusing. The word "shibari" to most non SM oriented Japanese simply means weaving!;

Knot tying, or, in this sense, simply tying.

Shibari involves tying up the bottom in intricate patterns, usually with several pieces of thin rope. Shibari differs from Western bondage in that, instead of just immobilizing or restraining the bottom, the bottom gains pleasure from being under pressure and strain of the ropes, squeezing the breasts or genitals. Shocker