Originally, this was a term for the class of low-ranking technical palace officials up to the sixth rank who worked for aristocracy and Shodaibu (aristocracy lower than Kugyo), but eventually was used to define the bushi, who were technical palace officials with military skills.
元来は有力貴族や諸大夫に仕える位階六位どまりの下級技能官人層（侍品さむらいほん）を指すが、次第にその中でも武芸を職能とする技能官人である武士を指すことが多くなった。