Refers to a leftover or small piece of something physical, such as cloth, paper, or wood.
布の端くれで人形を作った。
I made a doll from scraps of cloth.
unimportant member; mere ...; humble ...
Used in the pattern ...の端くれ to humbly or dismissively refer to oneself or someone as a minor, insignificant member of a group or profession. Often self-referential.
私も医者の端くれですから、少しはわかります。
I'm a mere doctor myself, so I understand a little.
彼は学者の端くれとして意見を述べた。
He gave his opinion as a humble scholar.
Kana spelling is common in informal writing.
Formed from 端, “edge; end,” and くれ, an old noun meaning a fragment or small piece. The figurative sense denotes an insignificant member of a group.