Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A Japanese short sword, often paired with the katana (daitou) in the daisho. It is forged in the same way as a katana, but it was much shorter and rarely used in real combat.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Japanese 脇差 (わきざし), from  ("side") + combining form of 差す ("to wear (weapon)").

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Examples

Comments

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  • "Of course the Carbonite stilettos pierced it as if it were cork board, but this spoiled his aim long enough for me to whip my wakizashi out from between my shoulder blades and swing at his head."

    "Slashdot Interview" by Neal Stephenson, p 28 of Some Remarks

    August 29, 2013