一いっ矢し

noun

one arrow; a single arrow

Literal meaning; often used in historical or archery contexts. In modern Japanese, it is most commonly encountered in the fixed expression 一矢を報いる.

• 彼かれは一いっ矢しを放はなったが、的まとに当あたらなかった。

  He shot a single arrow, but it missed the target.

noun

retort; a comeback; a counterattack

Idiomatic use, almost exclusively in the phrase 一矢を報いる (to retaliate, to get a jab in, to return fire). The word 一矢 itself is not freely used to mean 'retort' outside this expression.

See also: 一矢を報いる

• 彼かれは批ひ判はんに対たいして一いっ矢しを報むくいた。