Since January 2006. Last update January 17, 2016
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What does "Samurai" originally mean? According to a Japanese dictionary, it meant someone who did "saburau" (work as a private servant) for a noble person (aristocrat) and peviously pronounced "Saburai". By the way, there's another word "Bushi" to refer to them. Difference? Even the Japanese can't exactly tell, but I would say: Bushi is "a military man" while Samurai is "a warrior" hired by a lord. Here's a saying about Samurai:
えせ侍の刀いじり Ese (=fake) zamurai (=Samurai) no katana (=sword) ijiri (fidget)
Meaning? A coward Samurai fidgets with his sword. A poor gunman easily brandishes his gun.