はしくれ

Compound of 端 (hashi, “edge; piece of something”) +‎ 塊 (kure, “lump, chunk”).[1][2] Compare similar usage of English lump.

First cited to 1694.[1]

• (Tokyo) はしくれ [hàshíkúré] (Heiban – [0])[2][3][4]
• IPA^(key): [ha̠ɕi̥kɯ̟ᵝɾe̞]

はしくれ • (hashikure) 

1. [from 1792] small fragment or piece of something
2. [from 1694] someone or something belonging to a certain group or category, but otherwise nondescript and not worth attention
3. [date uncertain] (more specifically) unimportant or novice member of a group, rank and file, as opposed to a full-fledged member
   • 2005, 藤原正彦 (Fujiwara Masahiko), Giles Murray, transl., 国家の品格 (Kokka no Hinkaku) [The Dignity of the Nation, Bilingual edition], page 4:

     数(すう)学(がく)者(しゃ)のはしくれである私(わたし)が、論(ろん)理(り)の力(ちから)を疑(うたが)うようになったのです。

     Sūgakusha no hashikure de aru watashi ga, ronri no chikara o utagau yō ni natta no desu.

     Here I was, a nothing mathematician who had ended up questioning the value of logic!

   • 2002, 角野栄子 (Kadono Eiko), 魔女の宅急便 (Majo no Takkyūbin) [Kiki's Delivery Service], page 13:

     あたしだってかあさんのむすめです。魔(ま)女(じょ)のはしくれです。

     Atashi datte kā-san no musume desu. Majo no hashikure desu.

     (please add an English translation of this example)

Sense 2 is often used to express one's membership in a group in a non-boastful, humble manner.