RONIN

A ronin (浪人, rōnin) was a masterless samurai during the feudal period (1185–1868) of Japan.

A samurai became masterless from the ruin or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege. Since a ronin doesn't serve any lord, he is no longer a samurai. A samurai is a "servant", since the noun came from the verb "saburau" which is the Japanese for "to serve".

(In a parallel development, the word "knight" also originally meant "servant" and its German cognate "knecht" still means that.)

The word ronin literally means "wave person" - one who is tossed about, as on the waves in the sea. The term originated in the Nara and Heian periods, when it originally referred to serfs who had fled or deserted their master's land.

It is also a term used for samurai who had lost their masters in wars.