also: しょうてい
noun
young male laborer (ritsuryō system)
Archaic historical term for men aged 17–20 who were subject to a quarter of the corvée and tax obligations of full adult males under the ritsuryō legal codes.
律令制では、少丁は正丁の4分の1の課役を負った。
Under the ritsuryō system, shōchō bore one quarter of the labor and tax obligations of full adult males.
From 少 (shō, 'young, small') + 丁 (chō/tei, 'adult male, laborer'), a term used in the ritsuryō legal system to classify males by age and corvée obligations.