郭くるわ言こと葉ば

く

る

わ

こ

と

ば

Meanings

noun

sociolect of Edo-period red-light district prostitutes; vulgar language of prostitutes (Edo period)

archaiclinguistics

Historical term for the specialized jargon and secret language used by prostitutes in the pleasure quarters during the Edo period. Now archaic and primarily encountered in linguistic or historical contexts.

郭くるわ言こと葉ばは江え戸ど時じ代だいの遊ゆう郭かくで使つかわれた特とく殊しゅな言こと葉ば遣づかいである。
Kuruwa-kotoba is a specialized language used in the red-light districts of the Edo period.
この小しょう説せつには、遊ゆう女じょたちの郭くるわ言こと葉ばがリアルに描えがかれている。
In this novel, the prostitutes' kuruwa-kotoba is depicted realistically.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

郭enclosure, quarters, fortification
言say, word
葉leaf, plane, lobe
廓enclosure, quarter, red-light district
詞part of speech, words, poetry

Related words

遊ゆう郭かく
Refers to the red-light district itself, while 郭言葉 is the language used there.
隠いん語ご
General term for secret language or jargon; 郭言葉 is a specific historical example.

Written forms

郭くるわ言こと葉ば
Standard kanji spelling for this historical term.
廓くるわ言こと葉ば
Variant using the traditional form of 郭.
郭くるわ詞ことば
Less common spelling using 詞.
廓くるわ詞ことば
Rare variant combining the traditional 廓 with 詞.

Etymology

Compound of 郭 (くるわ, 'red-light district') and 言葉 (ことば, 'language'). The exact origin of the specific vocabulary is uncertain, but it developed as a sociolect within Edo-period pleasure quarters.