noun
drawstring purse; money pouch
A small traditional pouch closed with a drawstring, often used for carrying money or small items.
祖母が巾着にお金を入れてくれた。
My grandmother put money in a drawstring purse for me.
浴衣の帯に巾着をぶら下げている。
She has a drawstring pouch hanging from her yukata sash.
noun
fried tofu pouch (in oden)
A pouch made of deep-fried tofu (aburaage) stuffed with ingredients like mochi, konjac, or vegetables, simmered in oden broth.
See also: おでん
おでんの巾着には餅が入っている。
The fried tofu pouch in the oden has mochi inside.
noun
Abbreviation of 腰巾着 (こしぎんちゃく), a person who always follows someone around, often with a negative connotation of sycophancy.
See also: 腰巾着
彼は社長の巾着みたいにいつもついて回っている。
He's always following the company president around like a flunky.
noun
unlicensed prostitute (Edo period)
Archaic term for an illegal prostitute during the Edo period, often operating outside the licensed pleasure quarters.
江戸時代、巾着は非公認の遊女を指した。
In the Edo period, 巾着 referred to an unlicensed prostitute.
Originally referred to a drawstring pouch worn at the waist. The 'hanger-on' sense is an abbreviation of 腰巾着 (waist pouch), and the oden ingredient is named for its pouch-like shape. The Edo-period prostitute sense is a historical slang extension.