Japanese

Noun

芸者 ‎(shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 藝者, hiragana げいしゃ, romaji geisha)

1. geisha
2. One who is proficient in an art. An artisan.
   • 1603–1604, Nippo Jisho (page 295)

     Gueixa. Guei arumono. (芸ある者) 芸能の心得のある者、または、能力のある者.

3. A person who utilizes their art as an occupation.
   • 1688: 日本永代蔵, Volume 6, Chapter 5

     一切の人間、目有鼻あり、手あしもかはらず生れ付て、貴人・高人、よろづの藝者は各別、常の町人、金銀の有徳ゆへ世上に名をしらるゝ事、是を思へば、若き時よりかせぎて、分限の其名を世に殘さぬは口をし。

4. One who entertains parties with song and dance.

Noun

芸者 ‎(hiragana げいじゃ, romaji geija)

1. One who is proficient in an art. An artisan.
   • 1474: 広本節用集

     芸者(ゲイジャ)

See also

• Korean: 妓生 ‎(기생, gisaeng)

References

• Doi, Tadao (1603–1604) Hōyaku Nippo Jisho (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, ISBN 978-4-00-080021-1, published 1980.
• Noma, Kōshin (1960) Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 48: Saigakushū (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, ISBN 4-0006-0048-6