別べっ当とう

noun

groom; stableman; equerry

Historical role: a servant who tends horses and attends to a noble or samurai. Not a modern occupation.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、大だい名みょう行ぎょう列れつには別べっ当とうが馬うまを引ひいて従したがった。

  In the Edo period, a groom led the horse and accompanied the daimyo's procession.

noun

steward; intendant

Historical role: an official who managed the household or estate of a noble or temple. Overlaps with sense 3 but emphasizes administrative duties.

• その寺てらの別べっ当とうは、寺じ領りょうの管かん理りも任まかされていた。

  The steward of that temple was also entrusted with managing the temple's estate.

noun

head of a religious institution; chief priest

Archaic. Specifically refers to the head of a Buddhist temple or shrine, sometimes concurrently holding another post. Marked as archaic.

• 鎌かま倉くら時じ代だいには、別べっ当とうが複ふく数すうの寺てらを兼けん務むすることもあった。

  In the Kamakura period, a chief priest sometimes concurrently served at multiple temples.