street prostitute; streetwalker
A somewhat dated or formal term for a prostitute who solicits on the street. In modern contexts, more colloquial terms like 立ちんぼ or 街角の売春婦 are often used.
In the chaotic postwar period, many street prostitutes could be seen.
Compound of 街 (がい, 'street') and 娼 (しょう, 'prostitute'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common Sino-Japanese word formation pattern.