Archaic term for the age at which one is considered ready for marriage. Replaced by 婚期 in modern Japanese.
See also: 婚期
In old documents, expressions like 'a daughter who has reached marriageable age' can be found.
Composed of 嫁 (bride, marry) and 期 (period, time). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is an older form of the modern 婚期.