noun
Archaic term for a narrow passage or alley, especially in older city layouts. Not used in modern everyday speech.
古地図には「図子」と記された路地がいくつも見られる。
On old maps, many alleys marked as 図子 can be seen.
noun
Archaic term for a crossing or intersection of streets. Historical usage only.
江戸時代の文献では、町の辻を「図子」と表記することがあった。
In Edo-period documents, town crossroads were sometimes written as 図子.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji spellings 図子 and 途子 are ateji, using characters phonetically rather than for their meaning. The word itself is archaic and may have originated in older urban terminology.