臣やつこ

noun

slave; servant; retainer; captive

Only with reading やつこ / つぶね

Archaic term for a person in servitude, including slaves, retainers, and captives. Sense 1 is explicitly archaic; senses 2 and 3 are historical but not marked archaic.

• 古いにしえの世よには、やつこは主おもに仕つかえる身み分ぶんであった。

  In ancient times, a yatsuko was a person who served a master.

• 戦いくさに敗やぶれ、多おおくの者ものがやつことなった。

  Defeated in battle, many became captives.

noun

varlet; wretch

Only with reading やつこ

Derogatory archaic term for a lowly or contemptible person.

• 「このやつこめが」と、殿とのは怒いかりをあらわにした。

  'You varlet!' the lord exclaimed in anger.

pronoun

I; me

Only with reading やつこ / やつこらま

Humble first-person pronoun used in archaic Japanese, often by servants or low-ranking individuals when addressing superiors.

• やつこは、ただ仰おおせのままに。

  I will do as you command.