noun
petty official; low-ranking government clerk
Refers to a minor official or clerk in a government office, often with a nuance of low rank and limited authority. Somewhat formal and may appear in historical or bureaucratic contexts.
彼は役所の小吏として長年働いてきた。
He has worked for many years as a petty official at the government office.
Compound of 小 (small, petty) and 吏 (official, clerk). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used to denote minor officials in administrative contexts.