What does Yakuza mean and what is its origin?

The term "Yakuza" is thought to derive from the worst possible score in an old card game similar to baccarat: *ya-ku-za* (8-9-3), signifying worthlessness or an outcast status. Its origins trace back to the Edo period in Japan, primarily among *bakuto* (gamblers) and *tekiya* (itinerant peddlers), who organized themselves into groups to protect their trades and territories.