noun
wakizashi; short sword
A traditional Japanese short sword, typically between 30 and 60 cm, worn by samurai as a companion to the katana. Often part of the daishō pair.
侍は大小二本の刀を差していたが、そのうち短い方を脇差と呼んだ。
Samurai wore two swords, a long and a short one; the shorter was called a wakizashi.
博物館で美しい脇
I saw a beautiful wakizashi at the museum.
From 脇 (waki, 'side') + 差し (sashi, 'inserting'), referring to a sword worn at the side. The reading ざし is a rendaku form of さし.