fallen geisha; geisha who prostitutes herself
Historical term for a geisha who engaged in prostitution, often due to financial hardship or coercion. The word carries a negative, stigmatizing connotation and is not used for modern sex workers.
In the Edo period, some women became fallen geisha out of poverty.
She fell into being a fallen geisha because of debt.
芸者 is a general term for a traditional female entertainer, while 床芸者 specifically refers to one who also engages in prostitution.
遊女 is a broader historical term for a prostitute or courtesan, not necessarily a geisha. 床芸者 is a subset of geisha who turned to prostitution.
Standard modern spelling.
Contains outdated kanji 藝; rarely used in modern writing.
Compound of 床 (とこ, 'bed') and 芸者 (げいしゃ, 'geisha'), literally 'bed geisha'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term clearly indicates a geisha who engages in sexual activities.