Archaic term for a prostitute; not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts. Related to 暗者女 (くらものおんな).
See also: 暗者女
江戸時代の文献に「暗者」という語が見られる。
The word 暗者 appears in Edo-period documents.
In old documents, 暗者 can refer to a swindler.
prostitute in a clandestine brothel (Edo period)
Rare kanji spelling; the word itself is archaic and seldom encountered in modern Japanese.
Alternate rare kanji spelling; same reading and meaning as 暗者.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 暗 (dark) and 者 (person) suggest a person of the shadows, fitting both the prostitute and imposter meanings.