prostitute; courtesan
Historical term for a woman who engaged in prostitution, especially in the Edo period. Often refers to high-class courtesans in the pleasure quarters. In modern contexts, it sounds archaic or literary.
江戸時代、吉原には多くの遊女がいた。
In the Edo period, there were many courtesans in Yoshiwara.
遊女の悲しい物語を読んだ。
I read a sad story about a courtesan.
brothel
prostitutes' kabuki; harlots' kabuki
Compound of 遊 (play, pleasure) and 女 (woman). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used since the Heian period to refer to women who entertained men, later becoming associated with licensed prostitution in the Edo period.