曖あい昧まい屋や

noun

brothel disguised as a legitimate business

Historical term for an establishment that operated as a brothel while pretending to be a tea house, inn, restaurant, or similar business. The name literally means 'ambiguous shop'.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、曖あい昧まい屋やと呼よばれる店みせが遊ゆう郭かくの外そとにも存そん在ざいした。

  In the Edo period, establishments called aimaiya existed outside the licensed pleasure quarters.