御様御用おためしごよう

noun

sword tester (Edo period); executioner

Historical term for an official who tested swords on condemned criminals or corpses during the Edo period, sometimes also acting as an executioner.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、御お様ためし御ご用ようは罪ざい人にんの体からだで刀かたなの切きれ味あじを試ためした。

  In the Edo period, the sword tester tested the sharpness of swords on the bodies of criminals.

• 御お様ためし御ご用ようは、刀とう剣けんの性せい能のうを確たしかめる役やく目めも担になっていた。

  The sword tester also had the role of verifying the performance of swords.