government-owned slave
Archaic term from the Ritsuryō system, referring to a slave owned by the state. Contrast with 官奴婢 (かんぬひ), which were slaves owned by specific government offices.
See also: 官奴婢
Under the Ritsuryō system, 公奴婢 were slaves directly under the imperial court.
Compound of 公 (public/government) and 奴婢 (slave/servant). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with the Ritsuryō legal codes.