野の武ぶ士し

noun

wandering samurai; soldier of fortune; brigand

Historical term for a samurai without a lord, often living in the mountains and sometimes resorting to banditry. The English glosses cover a range from mercenary to outright robber.

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だいには、主しゅ君くんを失うしなった野の武ぶ士しが各かく地ちを放ほう浪ろうした。

  During the Warring States period, masterless wandering samurai roamed the country.

• 野の武ぶ士しの集しゅう団だんが村むらを襲おそい、食しょく料りょうを奪うばっていった。

  A band of brigands attacked the village and stole food.

noun

hermit; mountain ascetic; itinerant priest

Only when written 野伏 / 野臥

Rare, historical use referring to a person who lives in seclusion in the mountains, often for religious reasons. Restricted to the kanji forms 野伏 and 野臥.

• その山やま奥おくには、野の伏ぶしと呼よばれる修しゅ行ぎょう者しゃが住すんでいたという。

  It is said that a mountain ascetic called a nobushi lived deep in those mountains.