also: たちどり
executioner; person in charge of beheading
Historical term for the person who beheads a samurai performing seppuku, or more broadly an executioner. Sense 1 is specific to seppuku; sense 2 is a broader executioner role.
At the time of seppuku, the executioner performed the beheading.
In the Edo period, the executioner also served as a death penalty enforcer.
rikishi carrying a sword in yokozuna ring-entering ceremony
Sumo term: a wrestler who follows the yokozuna during the dohyo-iri, carrying a sword. Cross-referenced with 太刀持ち.
See also: 太刀持ち
In the yokozuna's ring-entering ceremony, the sword-bearer follows behind carrying the sword.
Standard kanji spelling.
Rendaku variant reading; less common.
Compound of 太刀 (tachi, 'long sword') and 取り (tori, 'taker, handler'). The historical derivation is straightforward; the sumo sense is an extension of the sword-bearing role.