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.
In the Yoshiwara district of the Edo period, there were low-class prostitutes called shirokubi.
Shirokubi is an old word for a woman who put thick white powder on her neck.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical derogatory term.
Compound of 白 (shiro, 'white') and 首 (kubi, 'neck'), referring to the thick white makeup applied to the neck. The reading しらくび uses the older combining form しら for 白.