loss mark; mark indicating a defeat
Used in sumo and other competitive contexts to denote a loss on a record, often paired with 勝ち星 (win).
This tournament, losses are piling up first.
The number of wins and losses became equal.
Compound of 負け (make, 'defeat') + 星 (hoshi, 'star'), referring to the star-shaped marks used in sumo ranking sheets to denote losses.