also: まちだい
noun
assisting town official (Edo period)
Historical term for a subordinate town official in the Edo period, assisting higher-ranking officials like 町名主 or 町年寄.
江戸時代、町代は町名主の補佐役として町政に関わった。
In the Edo period, the 町代 was involved in town administration as an assistant to the 町名主.
Standard kanji form for this historical term.
Alternate reading; less common than ちょうだい.
Compound of 町 (town) and 代 (substitute, assistant), referring to a deputy town official in the Edo period.