noun
traditional employed fisherman; fisherman working for a master
Historical term for a fisherman who provided labor to a net owner (網元) in exchange for equipment, a share of the catch, and sometimes lodging. The reading あご is a dialectal or variant pronunciation.
See also: 網元
江戸時代、網子は網元に雇われて漁に出た。
In the Edo period, amiko went fishing employed by a net owner.
この地域では、昔は網子として働く若者が多かった。
In this region, there used to be many young men working as amiko.
Kana spelling, useful for learners or when the kanji is not needed.
網元 is the master or owner of the fishing nets, while 網子 is the employed fisherman who works under the 網元.
Compound of 網 (ami, 'net') and 子 (ko, 'person'), literally 'net person'. The reading あご is likely a dialectal variant.