1.
smashing; destruction; demolition
the act of breaking or destroying something by striking it
2.
riot; destructive protest (historical)
a type of popular uprising in the Edo period where crowds destroyed the homes and shops of wealthy merchants or officials
In its general sense, refers to smashing or ruining something. In Japanese history, 打ち壊し specifically refers to a form of urban protest during the Edo period (1603-1868) where mobs attacked and destroyed the homes and warehouses of rice merchants, moneylenders, and other perceived profiteers.
Etymology
打ち壊し differed from rural 一揆 (peasant uprisings) in that they were primarily urban events targeting specific merchants rather than the government directly. They typically erupted during famines or when rice prices spiked. The 天明 famine (1782-1788) and 天保 famine (1833-1837) saw especially widespread 打ち壊し.