noun
Edo geisha
Archaic term for a geisha who lived and worked inside Edo proper, as opposed to those in the outlying red-light districts. Now a historical reference.
江戸芸者は、吉原などの遊郭ではなく、江戸の市中で活動していた。
Edo geisha worked in the city of Edo itself, not in the Yoshiwara or other red-light districts.
General term for geisha, without the specific Edo-era geographical distinction.
Compound of 江戸 (Edo, the old name for Tokyo) and 芸者 (geisha). The term distinguished geisha working within the city from those in the licensed pleasure quarters.