ancient soldier's hat; jingasa
A type of conical hat worn by common foot soldiers in feudal Japan, often made of lacquered leather or iron.
I saw a jingasa at the museum.
common soldier; rank-and-file soldier
Abbreviation of 陣笠連. Refers to an ordinary foot soldier, as opposed to an officer. Historical usage.
See also: 陣笠連
rank and file; ordinary members
Abbreviation of 陣笠連. Used figuratively for the ordinary members of a political party or organization, as opposed to the leadership.
See also: 陣笠連
He was nothing more than a common soldier.
The rank-and-file members of the party just follow the policy.
common soldier; rank-and-file soldier · rank and file (of a political party); ordinary party members
backbencher; minor politician
Compound of 陣 (jin, 'battle camp') and 笠 (kasa, 'conical hat'). The figurative sense derives from the hat worn by common soldiers, later extended to ordinary members of a group.