腰こし弁べん当とう

noun

lunchbox worn at the waist; low-paid office worker

Historically referred to a lunchbox tied to the waist, then came to mean a poorly paid clerk or office worker who brings a simple lunch. The 'low-paid worker' sense is somewhat dated and often used humorously or self-deprecatingly.

• 昔むかしの職しょく人にんは腰こし弁べん当とうで仕し事ごとに出でかけた。

  Craftsmen in the old days went to work with a lunchbox hanging from their waist.

• 彼かれは自じ分ぶんを腰こし弁べん当とうと呼よんで、安やす月げっ給きゅうを嘆なげいた。

  He called himself a low-paid office worker and lamented his meager salary.