sword-bearer; attendant who carries a lord's sword
Historical role: a subordinate who carries and guards their master's sword, often seen in samurai contexts.
In period dramas, a sword-bearer stands behind the lord.
sumo attendant carrying a sword; rikishi who follows the yokozuna during the ring-entering ceremony
Sumo-specific term: a wrestler who carries a sword and accompanies the yokozuna during the dohyō-iri (ring-entering ceremony).
During the yokozuna's ring-entering ceremony, the sword-bearer and the herald lead the way.
Standard spelling for both the historical sword-bearer and the sumo attendant.
Variant spelling without the okurigana ち; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 太刀 (tachi, 'long sword') and 持ち (mochi, 'carrier'), from 持つ (motsu, 'to hold'). The sumo usage derives from the historical role of a sword-bearer.