also: げはい
noun
inferior; low-class person
Rare, somewhat archaic term for a person of lower status or class. Not used in modern everyday speech; more common words are 目下 (めした) or 下位の人.
古い身分制度では、下輩は上輩に従うものとされた。
In the old class system, inferiors were expected to obey their superiors.
Alternate reading; even less common than かはい.
Compound of 下 (lower) and 輩 (fellow, group). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word appears in older texts but is now rare.