also: ヴァイシャ
Vaishya; member of the merchant-and-farmer caste in India
Refers to the third of the four varnas in the traditional Hindu caste system, associated with trade, agriculture, and commerce.
In the Indian caste system, the Vaishya are the merchant and farmer class.
Usually written in katakana; usually written in kana.
Alternate katakana spelling reflecting the original Sanskrit v-sound.
Ateji (phonetic) kanji form; rarely used.
From Sanskrit वैश्य (vaiśya), meaning 'a man of the third caste, a commoner, a merchant'.