also: しるし
noun
decapitated head of an enemy; severed head taken as a trophy
Historical term referring to the head of a defeated enemy, often taken as proof of a kill in battle. The reading しるし is archaic and rarely used today.
戦国時代、武士は敵の首級を挙げて戦功を証明した。
In the Warring States period, samurai proved their battle achievements by taking the severed heads of their enemies.
彼は大将の首級を取ったと主張した。
He claimed to have taken the enemy general's head.
Rare alternate kanji spelling for the reading しるし, which itself is archaic. The reading しるし is not commonly used in modern Japanese.
首 (くび) is the common word for 'neck' or 'head' in everyday contexts, while 首級 (しゅきゅう) specifically refers to a decapitated head taken as a war trophy.
Compound of 首 (head) and 級 (rank, class), originally referring to the head of a defeated enemy used to determine rank or reward in battle. The reading しるし is an older native Japanese reading, now archaic.