noun
privilege of wearing a sword for non-samurai
Historical term from the Edo period; refers to the special permission granted to certain non-samurai (e.g., merchants, doctors) to carry a sword, which was normally restricted to the samurai class.
江戸時代、帯刀御免は特別な名誉とされた。
During the Edo period, the privilege of wearing a sword was considered a special honor.
A yojijukugo compound of 帯刀 (carrying a sword) and 御免 (permission, pardon). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with the Edo-period practice of granting sword-wearing privileges to non-samurai.