Kunoichi

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ku.noʊˈi.t͡ʃi/

Definitions

1. A woman adept in the techniques of stealth, subterfuge, and martial arts often engaged in espionage and covert missions in historical Japan
2. A skilled female operative who utilizes agility, cunning, and combat training to execute secret assignments within the context of ninjutsu practices
3. A female figure proficient in stealth tactics, disguise, and combat skills, often involved in espionage activities during the feudal period of Japan

Etymology: The Japanese term 女 is written in kanji as くノ一, which is a playful piece of wordplay: the katakana ku (ク) plus the katakana no (ノ) plus the kanji for one (一) combine to form the character 女, meaning "woman." Splitting the character this way makes the spelling itself a puzzle, and that cleverness is part of why the word stuck. The word was borrowed into English directly from Japanese, where it refers to a female ninja, a spy or assassin trained in the covert arts. English speakers adopted it to describe that specific figure, and the term is now used far beyond Japan in fiction, games and popular culture, usually for a woman who works as a stealthy operative.