noun
buying the services of a prostitute; whoring
Historical term for visiting and paying for a prostitute, especially in the Edo-period pleasure quarters. Now archaic and rarely used outside historical contexts.
See also: 傾城買い
江戸時代には、女郎買いは遊郭で行われていた。
In the Edo period, buying the services of a prostitute was done in the pleasure quarters.
彼は財産を使い
He indulged in whoring until he squandered his fortune.
Synonym; also archaic and refers to the same practice. 女郎買い is slightly more common in historical texts.
Compound of 女郎 (prostitute) and 買い (buying). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with Edo-period culture.