Samurai: A member of the hereditary warrior class of feudal Japan. Also, a Japanese military retainer or knight, employed by a feudal lord (daimyo).
The samurai class effectively ruled Japan from the late 12th century through the Meiji Restoration (1868). The effective head of samurai government was the shogun; although Japan retained its emperors during this period, they were little more than figureheads.
Several theories exist about the origin of the word "samurai." It may come from the prefix sa, of unknown meaning, and the root morafi, meaning "to watch or guard." Alternatively, "samurai" may come from saburai, meaning "to attend, to serve."
"The ideals of samurai culture, as expressed in the code of bushido, pervade Japanese thought even today."
