白しろ首くび

noun

low-class prostitute; woman with white-powdered neck

Historical derogatory term for a low-ranking prostitute, often associated with the Edo period. The name comes from the thick white makeup applied to the neck. Both readings しろくび and しらくび are attested, with しろくび being more common.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの吉よし原わらでは、白しろ首くびと呼よばれる最さい下級きゅうの遊ゆう女じょがいた。

  In the Yoshiwara district of the Edo period, there were low-class prostitutes called shirokubi.

• 「白しろ首くび」は、首くびに白粉おしろいを厚あつく塗ぬった女じょ性せいを指さす古ふるい言こと葉ばだ。

  Shirokubi is an old word for a woman who put thick white powder on her neck.