口くち減べらし

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

reducing the number of dependents; mouths to feed reduction

Historically refers to the practice of sending children away for adoption, apprenticeship, or service to ease a family's financial burden. Often used in discussions of pre-modern Japan. Can be used metaphorically for any reduction in household size.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、貧まずしい農のう家かが口くち減べらしのために子こどもを奉ほう公こうに出だした。

  In the Edo period, poor farming families sent their children into service as a way of reducing the number of mouths to feed.

• 不ふ況きょうで収しゅう入にゅうが減へり、口くち減べらしとして親しん戚せきに子こどもを預あずけることを考かんがえた。

  With income falling due to the recession, they considered leaving their child with relatives as a way to cut down on dependents.