noun
side of a well; wellside
Refers to the area around a well. Often used in the compound 井戸端会議 (idobata kaigi, 'wellside gossip') for casual chatting among neighbors.
昔、村の女たちは井戸端に集まって洗濯をした。
Long ago, the women of the village gathered at the wellside to do laundry.
井戸端会議に花が咲く。
The wellside gossip is in full swing.
Compound of 井戸 (ido, 'well') and 端 (hata, 'edge, side'). The reading ばた is a rendaku form of はた.