When you hear 'samurai' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Samurai' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'samurai'. The word entered the English language some time around 1727.

samurai [noun] [1727]

• a military retainer of a Japanese daimyo practicing the code of conduct of Bushido
• the warrior aristocracy of Japan

See 'samurai' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Japanese.

Etymology: Japanese

See more loan words from 1700s.