also: かこいめ
Historical term for a woman financially supported by a man in a non-marital relationship; similar to 囲い者. Now largely archaic, encountered mainly in historical or literary contexts.
See also: 囲い者
In the Edo period, wealthy merchants sometimes kept a mistress.
「囲い女」は、今ではほとんど使われない古い言葉だ。
囲い女 is an old word that is hardly used nowadays.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical term.
Alternate reading; less common than かこいおんな.
Formed from 囲い, “keeping or maintaining a mistress,” and 女 “woman.” The supplied reading uses the ordinary reading おんな.