noun
common soldier; rank-and-file soldier
Historical term for an ordinary foot soldier, especially in the context of feudal Japan. The word 陣笠 originally referred to a type of simple helmet worn by low-ranking soldiers.
戦国時代、陣笠連は戦場の最前線で戦った。
During the Warring States period, common soldiers fought on the front lines of battle.
noun
rank and file (of a political party); ordinary party members
Modern political usage referring to the ordinary, non-leadership members of a political party, often with a nuance of being numerous and lacking individual influence.
党の決定に反対したのは、陣笠連の議員たちだった。
It was the rank-and-file members of the party who opposed the decision.
党員 is a neutral term for a party member, whereas 陣笠連 emphasizes the ordinary, non-leadership status within a party.
Compound of 陣笠 (jingasa, a type of simple helmet worn by common soldiers) and 連 (ren, group or party). The term originally referred to a group of low-ranking soldiers and later extended metaphorically to the rank and file of a political party.