イルマン

noun

brother; lay brother

Archaic term from early Japanese Christianity, borrowed from Portuguese 'irmão'. Refers to a non-ordained member of a Christian religious order.

from Portuguese irmão

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だい、イルマンと呼よばれる修しゅう道どう士したちが日本にほんで活かつ動どうした。

  During the Warring States period, religious brothers called 'イルマン' were active in Japan.

• この資し料りょうには、イルマンが教きょう会かいでどのような役やく割わりを果はたしたかが記しるされている。

  This document records what roles the lay brothers played in the church.