samurai

noun pl. samurai

1. in feudal Japan, a member of a military class, consisting of the retainers of the daimyos: a samurai wore two swords and lived by the code of Bushido
2. later, used in English to designate a Japanese army officer or member of the military caste

Origin: Jpn, var. of saburai, nominal form of sabura(h)u, to be in attendance, to serve