Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

私窩子 (しかし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

私し窩か子し

also: しわし

し

か

し

Meanings

1

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.

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

Kanji

私

private, I, me

窩cave, pouch

子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

窠nest, hole, indentation

Similar 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.

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.