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寄せ手 (よせて) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

寄よせ手て

よ

せ

て

Meanings

1

noun

attacking army; besieging force

Historical military term for an army advancing to attack or lay siege, especially in pre-modern contexts. Not used in modern military terminology.

城しろを囲かこむ寄よせ手ての数かずは数すう千せんに及およんだ。
The besieging force surrounding the castle numbered in the thousands.

Kanji

寄draw near, stop in, bring near
手hand

Similar words

攻せめ手て
攻め手 is a more general term for an attacking force or method of attack, while 寄せ手 specifically refers to an advancing army closing in on a target, often in historical siege contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 寄せ (yose, 'advancing, closing in', from verb 寄せる) + 手 (te, 'hand, party, group'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is associated with classical military narratives.