Etymology Map
Back to all words

Ronin

2 stages from Japanese to English.

Today it means a masterless samurai in feudal Japan; by extension, someone acting without an affiliation or sponsor

Where does the word "ronin" come from? It comes from Japanese rōnin, adopted directly into English (1800s-1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
rōnin
Japanese · medieval
"a masterless, wandering samurai"
literally 'wave man', describing a samurai adrift without a master to serve
2
Stage 2 of 2
ronin
English · 1800s-1900s
"a masterless samurai, or by extension, a lone unaffiliated agent"
borrowed through histories and later popular culture about samurai Japan
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom