鮒ふな侍ざむらい

noun

cowardly, good-for-nothing samurai from the countryside

A derogatory historical term for a low-ranking, rustic samurai who is seen as cowardly and useless. Rare in modern usage, appearing mainly in historical or period contexts.

• 時じ代だい劇げきで、鮒ふな侍ざむらいはよく臆おく病びょう者ものとして描えがかれる。

  In period dramas, a funazamurai is often portrayed as a coward.

• 彼かれは自じ分ぶんを鮒ふな侍ざむらいと卑ひ下げした。

  He disparaged himself as a good-for-nothing samurai from the sticks.