/bahn zuy", bahn"-/ ; Japn. /bahn"dzah"ee/ , interj.
1. (used as a Japanese patriotic cry or joyous shout.)
2. (used as a Japanese battle cry.)
adj.
3. leading to likely or inevitable death; suicidal: a banzai attack by Japanese troops in the last days of World War II.
[ 1890-95; ban ten thousand + -zai, comb. form of sai years of age ( wàn-suì, Korean manse ) ]