Archaic term for a man who serves and attends a person of high rank, especially in Heian and Kamakura periods. The reading さぶらい is older than さむらい.
In the Heian period, attendants were always waiting beside the nobles.
samurai guard house
Historical abbreviation of 侍所 (さぶらいどころ), the office or quarters of samurai guards during the Heian and Kamakura periods. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.
See also: 侍所
The samurai guard house of the Kamakura period functioned as a station for gokenin.
samurai general
The reading さぶらい is the older form of さむらい, derived from the verb さぶらう (to serve). The kanji 侍 is used for both readings.