居い合あい抜ぬき

noun

iai; art of drawing and cutting in one motion

Refers to the martial art technique of drawing the sword, cutting down an opponent, and resheathing in a single fluid motion. Often used in the context of iaidō.

See also: 居合

• 居い合あい抜ぬきの達たつ人じんは、鞘さやから刀かたなを抜ぬく瞬しゅん間かんに相あい手てを斬きる。

  A master of iai cuts down the opponent the instant the sword leaves the scabbard.

noun

historical street performance of sword-drawing

Historical term for a type of street performance during the Edo period, where a performer would demonstrate iai techniques to attract crowds and sell medicine or goods.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、居い合あい抜ぬきは香具師やしが薬くすりを売うるための見み世せ物ものだった。

  In the Edo period, iai-nuki was a spectacle used by medicine peddlers to sell their wares.