noun
banner-bearing samurai
Historical term for a samurai who carried his general's banner while riding into battle.
戦国時代、旗指は大将の旗を掲げて戦場を駆けた。
In the Sengoku period, the banner-bearing samurai rode across the battlefield holding the general's flag.
noun
small back-flag
Abbreviation of 旗指物; a small war flag attached to the back of a samurai's armor during battle.
See also: 旗指物
旗指は、武士が背中に付けた小さな旗のことである。
A 旗指 is a small flag that a samurai attached to his back.
旗指物 is the full term for the small back-flag; 旗指 is its abbreviation.
Compound of 旗 (hata, 'flag') and 指し (sashi, 'pointing' or 'indicating'), from the verb 指す (sasu). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term refers to the act of displaying a flag.