toe guards on clogs; footwear doorman
Historical term referring to the metal guards on the toes of wooden clogs (下駄), or the person who looked after footwear at the entrance of a building. Both senses are rare in modern Japanese.
Old wooden clogs had toe guards called 下駄番 to protect the toes.
At the entrance of the inn, there was a footwear doorman who took care of the guests' shoes.
Compound of 下駄 (geta, 'wooden clogs') and 番 (ban, 'guard' or 'watchman'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.