部屋へや方がた

noun

female servant hired at a lady-in-waiting's own expense (archaic)

Historical term from the Edo period referring to a personal maid employed privately by a lady-in-waiting in the ōoku (inner palace) of Edo Castle, as opposed to official servants paid by the shogunate.

• 大おお奥おくでは、御お年とし寄よりが自じ分ぶんの部屋へや方がたを持もつことが許ゆるされていた。

  In the ōoku, senior ladies-in-waiting were allowed to have their own private maids.

• 部屋へや方がたは、雇やとい主ぬしの身みの回まわりの世せ話わをした。

  The private maid attended to her employer's personal needs.