also: ぼうずころし
noun
prostitute serving a monk; luring a monk into depredation
Historical term for a prostitute (male or female) who specifically targeted Buddhist monks, or the act of seducing a monk into breaking vows. Rare and archaic; encountered mainly in Edo-period literature or historical contexts.
江戸時代の遊郭には、坊主殺しと呼ばれる者がいたという。
It is said that in the pleasure quarters of the Edo period, there were people called bōzu-goroshi (monk-killers).
「坊主殺し」は、僧侶を誘惑して堕落させることを指す古い言葉だ。
Bōzu-goroshi is an old term referring to the act of tempting a monk and leading him into depravity.
Compound of 坊主 (bōzu, 'Buddhist monk') and 殺し (koroshi/goroshi, 'killing'). The figurative sense of 'killing' a monk's vows through seduction is a historical euphemism. The exact origin is uncertain, but it appears in Edo-period texts.