私し窩か子し

also: しわし

し

か

し

Meanings

noun

prostitute; harlot

obsolete term

Obsolete term for a prostitute; not used in modern Japanese. Found only in historical texts.

江え戸ど時じ代だいの文ぶん献けんに「私し窩か子し」という語ごが見みられる。
The word 私窩子 appears in documents from the Edo period.

Kanji

私private, I, me
窩cave, pouch
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
窠nest, hole, indentation

Related words

遊ゆう女じょ
遊女 is a more common historical term for a prostitute or courtesan, while 私窩子 is an obscure obsolete synonym.
売ばい春しゅん婦ふ
売春婦 is the modern, neutral term for a prostitute, unlike the archaic 私窩子.

Written forms

私窩子
- しかし
  Obsolete kanji spelling; the reading しかし is the primary reading for this form.
- しわし
  Alternate reading しわし, restricted to this kanji form.
私し窠か子し
Variant obsolete kanji spelling; same reading しかし.
しわし

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 私 (private) and 窩 (den, hollow) or 窠 (nest) combine to suggest a hidden or private place, likely referring to a brothel or prostitute's quarters.