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.
Long ago, the women of the village gathered at the wellside to do laundry.
The wellside gossip is in full swing.
idle gossip; watercooler talk; content-free chat
Compound of 井戸 (ido, 'well') and 端 (hata, 'edge, side'). The reading ばた is a rendaku form of はた.