Left metal radical — the indexing radical in its 5-stroke side form. Original meaning of
销 was 'to melt metal,' which is why the metal radical anchors it. From smelting down came the figurative senses: to consume, dissolve, cancel out, and finally 'to sell off' (in the sense of clearing inventory). Modern compounds:
销售 (sales),
注销 (cancel),
销毁 (destroy).
