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.
御局と呼ばれる女官たちは、宮中で独自の部屋を与えられていた。
Court ladies called otsubone were given their own rooms in the imperial palace.
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.
江戸時代、御局は最下層の遊女を指す言葉だった。
In the Edo period, otsubone referred to the lowest class of prostitutes.
The term combines the honorific prefix 御 (お) with 局 (つぼね), which originally meant a room or chamber, later extended to refer to a person occupying such a room. The exact derivation is uncertain.