When its feudal lord was away to Edo due to the Sankinkotai (a system under which feudal lards in the Edo period were required to spend every other year in residence in Edo), a vassal who had to take care of the castle during the absence of the lord was particularly called Jodai-garo (usually, a chief retainer was assigned to exercise his duties).
また、諸藩においては、藩主が参勤交代で不在の折に留守居の職にあった家臣（一般には家老がその職務にあたった）を特に城代家老と呼んだ。