夫ふ

noun, used as a suffix

(working) man; laborer

Dated suffix attached to nouns indicating a type of worker or person engaged in a particular occupation. Often seen in older occupational terms.

• 「沖おき仲なか仕し」は、かつて港みなとで働はたらく沖おき仲なか仕し夫ふを指さした言こと葉ばだ。

  The word 沖仲仕 used to refer to a dockworker (沖仲仕夫).

• 古ふるい小しょう説せつには「炭たん鉱こう夫ふ」という表ひょう現げんがよく出でてくる。

  In old novels, the term 炭鉱夫 (coal miner) often appears.