noun
book lending; books for loan
Refers to the practice of lending books, or books that are available for loan, often in the context of rental bookstores (貸本屋).
昔は貸本屋が町のあちこちにあった。
In the old days, rental bookstores were found all over town.
この図書館の貸本は二週間借りられる。
Books for loan at this library can be borrowed for two weeks.
Compound of 貸し (kashi, 'lending') + 本 (hon, 'book'). The okurigana variant 貸し本 makes the verbal origin more explicit.