also: おとこしゅう
male head of a household; male owner; landlord; proprietor; male employer
Archaic term for a man who is the head of a household, owner, landlord, or employer. Contrasts with 女主 (おんなあるじ).
See also: 女主
In merchant houses of the Edo period, the male head of the household held all decision-making authority.
The landlord of this tenement is strict, but he also has a compassionate side.
Standard kanji form for the reading おとこあるじ.
Alternate reading おとこしゅう, less common and archaic.
Compound of 男 (おとこ, 'man') and 主 (あるじ/しゅう, 'master, head'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for gendered household roles.