patrolman; serviceman on patrol
Archaic term for a low-ranking soldier or guard assigned to patrol duty, primarily used in pre-modern military contexts.
During the Edo period, patrolmen were responsible for patrolling the castle town.
Specifically refers to a policeman in the early Meiji period, roughly equivalent to a modern 巡査. This usage is historical and not used in contemporary Japanese.
See also: 巡査
In the early Meiji era, the 邏卒 was the predecessor of the modern police officer.