also: どぼく
Archaic term for a male servant or footman, used in historical or literary contexts. Not used in modern Japanese outside of period pieces or classical references.
In samurai residences of the Edo period, manservants attended to their master's personal needs.
The word 奴僕 often appears in classical literature.
Archaic kanji spelling for a manservant or footman; the reading ぬぼく is standard for this form.
Alternate reading どぼく is rare and archaic; ぬぼく is the more common reading for this kanji form.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 奴 (servant, slave) and 僕 (manservant, I) combine to form a compound meaning a male servant or footman, used historically.