noun
old man; venerable gentleman
Archaic term for an elderly man, often with a respectful or venerable nuance. Compare 翁 (おきな).
See also: 翁 (おきな)
古い文献では「叟」を老人の敬称として使うことがある。
In old documents, 叟 is sometimes used as a respectful term for an old man.
The kanji 叟 originally depicted an old man with a walking stick. The reading そう is the on'yomi. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.