Samurais

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan known for their adherence to bushido, the way of the warrior; individuals trained in martial arts and skilled in weaponry such as swords and bows ; warriors who follow a code of honor and loyalty to their lords, often serving as protectors of their domains in a structured society
2. Members of an elite warrior class in historical Japan who practiced martial arts and upheld the principles of honor and loyalty ; fighters equipped with traditional weapons, including katanas, who served as military leaders and retainers ; individuals tied to a specific code of conduct emphasizing bravery and respect within a hierarchical society
3. Elite fighters from feudal Japan who embodied the principles of discipline, loyalty, and courage while serving their lords ; trained in various weapon techniques, especially swordsmanship, and often acting as local rulers ; adherents to a philosophical code focusing on honor and duty as warriors in a class-based society

Etymology: The plural "samurais" is the English-style form of "samurai," which is itself a Japanese word, so the plural here is the ordinary English addition of "-s" to a word that Japanese speakers never pluralise. In Japanese, "samurai" (侍) is both singular and plural, and the English plural "samurais" appears in writing alongside the unchanged "samurai" as a matter of convention. The Japanese word 侍 derives from a verb meaning "to attend upon" or "to serve," so its original sense was closer to "one who waits on a superior" than to a warrior as such. Over time, the people who served as armed retainers of the lords came to define the word, and it grew into the name for the whole warrior class of feudal Japan.

Synonyms: warriors, bushi, fighters, soldiers, knights