also: ろうちょう
man aged 61–65 (ritsuryō system)
Historical term from the ritsuryō legal codes; refers to a man in the 61–65 age bracket for corvée and tax purposes.
Under the ritsuryō system, men aged 61–65 were exempt from some corvée duties.
Standard kanji form for this historical term.
Alternate reading; ろうてい is more common.
From 老 (old) + 丁 (adult male in the ritsuryō labor system). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with the ritsuryō age-grade system.