局つぼね

noun

court lady; lady-in-waiting

Historical term for a woman serving in the imperial court during the Heian period.

• 紫むらさき式しき部ぶは一いち条じょう天皇てんのうの中ちゅう宮ぐう彰しょう子しに仕つかえた局つぼねである。

  Murasaki Shikibu was a court lady who served Empress Shōshi, consort of Emperor Ichijō.

noun

private room in a palace

Historical term for a separate room in a Heian palace, especially one assigned to a court lady. Compare with 曹司.

See also: 曹司

• 清せい少しょう納な言ごんは自じ分ぶんの局つぼねで『枕草子まくらのそうし』を執しっ筆ぴつしたと伝つたえられる。

  It is said that Sei Shōnagon wrote 'The Pillow Book' in her own room in the palace.

noun

low-class prostitute's room; low-class prostitute

Archaic term from the Edo period for a room used by a very low-ranking prostitute, or the prostitute herself. Related to 局女郎.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの遊ゆう廓かくでは、最さい下か級きゅうの遊ゆう女じょを「局つぼね」と呼よぶことがあった。

  In the pleasure quarters of the Edo period, the lowest-ranking prostitutes were sometimes called 'tsubone'.