御お局つぼね

noun

court lady with her own chamber

Archaic term for a high-ranking court lady in the imperial palace who had her own private room or office. Used in historical contexts.

• 御お局つぼねと呼よばれる女にょ官かんたちは、宮きゅう中ちゅうで独どく自じの部屋へやを与あたえられていた。

  Court ladies called otsubone were given their own rooms in the imperial palace.

noun

low-class prostitute (Edo period)

Historical term for a low-ranking prostitute during the Edo period. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical descriptions.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、御お局つぼねは最さい下か層そうの遊ゆう女じょを指さす言こと葉ばだった。

  In the Edo period, otsubone referred to the lowest class of prostitutes.