卒そつ族ぞく

noun

low-ranking samurai (1870-1872)

Historical term for a social class created in the early Meiji period, below shizoku (士族) and above commoners. Existed only from 1870 to 1872.

• 卒そつ族ぞくは明めい治じ初しょ期きの短みじかい期き間かんだけ存そん在ざいした身み分ぶんである。

  The sotsuzoku was a social class that existed only for a short period in the early Meiji era.