虜りょ

noun

captive; prisoner

Archaic term for a person captured in war or conflict. In modern Japanese, 捕虜 (ほりょ) is the standard word for prisoner of war, and 虜 is rarely used alone.

See also: 虜 (とりこ)

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、戦いくさで捕とらえた者ものを「虜りょ」と記しるしている。

  In old documents, people captured in battle are recorded as 虜.

noun

foreigner; barbarian; slave

Archaic derogatory term for non-Japanese people, often implying uncivilized or enslaved status. This usage is obsolete and offensive by modern standards.

• 古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくの史し書しょには、周しゅう辺へん民みん族ぞくを「虜りょ」と呼よぶ例れいが見みられる。

  In ancient Chinese historical records, there are examples of neighboring peoples being called 虜.