buying the services of a prostitute; whoring
Historical term for visiting and paying for a prostitute, especially in the Edo-period pleasure quarters. Now archaic and rarely used outside historical contexts.
See also: 傾城買い
In the Edo period, buying the services of a prostitute was done in the pleasure quarters.
He indulged in whoring until he squandered his fortune.
Standard kanji spelling with okurigana.
Variant without okurigana; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 女郎 (prostitute) and 買い (buying). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with Edo-period culture.