noun
Historical term for an official firefighter in Edo-period Japan, specifically one of the organized fire brigades established by the shogunate.
江戸時代、定火消しは幕府直属の消防組織だった。
In the Edo period, the jōbikeshi were a firefighting organization under the direct control of the shogunate.
定
The uniforms of the jōbikeshi stood out clearly at fire scenes.
General term for firefighter in the Edo period; 定火消し specifically refers to the official, shogunate-appointed brigade, while 火消し can also refer to privately organized or town fire brigades.
Compound of 定 (jō, 'fixed, regular') and 火消し (hikeshi, 'firefighting'). The term refers to the permanent, officially appointed fire brigades of the Edo shogunate, as opposed to temporary or volunteer groups.