船饅頭ふなまんじゅう

noun

low-grade prostitute; boat prostitute on the Sumida River

Historical term for a low-ranking prostitute who worked from boats on the Sumida River during the Edo period. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、船饅頭ふなまんじゅうは隅すみ田だ川がわの舟ふねで客きゃくを取とった。

  In the Edo period, funamanjū served customers on boats on the Sumida River.