also: おとこしゅう
noun
male head of a household; male owner; landlord; proprietor; male employer
Archaic term for a man who is the head of a household, owner, landlord, or employer. Contrasts with 女主 (おんなあるじ).
See also: 女主
江戸時代の商家では、男主がすべての決定権を持っていた。
In merchant houses of the Edo period, the male head of the household held all decision-making authority.
この長屋の男主は厳しいが、情け深いところもある。
The landlord of this tenement is strict, but he also has a compassionate side.
女主 is the female counterpart, meaning female head of a household, landlady, or proprietress.
Compound of 男 (おとこ, 'man') and 主 (あるじ/しゅう, 'master, head'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for gendered household roles.