三さん一ぴん

noun

low-ranking samurai

Derogatory abbreviation of 三一侍 (さんぴんざむらい). Refers to a low-ranking samurai, originally from the dice roll 三一 (three and one) implying a poor hand. Historical term; not used in modern contexts.

See also: 三一侍

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、三さん一ぴんと呼よばれる下か級きゅう武ぶ士しがいた。

  In the Edo period, there were low-ranking samurai called 三一.

noun

rolling three and one (in dice)

Original meaning: a dice roll of three and one, considered a poor combination. Now mostly encountered in historical or game contexts.

• 三さん一ぴんの目めが出でたら負まけだ。

  If you roll a three and one, you lose.