harlot
English
Etymology
From Middle English harlot, from Old French harlot, herlot, arlot (“vagabond; tramp”), of obscure origin. Likely ultimately of Germanic origin, either from a derivation of *harjaz (“army; camp; warrior; military leader”) or from a diminutive of *karilaz (“man; fellow”). Compare English carlot.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɑːlət/
Audio (UK) (file)
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɑɹlət/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
harlot (plural harlots)
- (derogatory, offensive, dated) A female prostitute.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:prostitute
- c. 1594, William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act V, scene i], lines 204-205, page 98:
- This day (great Duke) ſhe ſhut the doores vpon me, / While she with Harlots feaſted in my housſe.
- 1890, William Booth, chapter 6, in In Darkest England and the Way Out:
- The bastard of a harlot, born in a brothel, suckled on gin, and familiar from earliest infancy with all the bestialities of debauch, […]
- 1908, William Blake, To the Accuser Who Is the God of This World:
- Truly, My Satan, thou art but a Dunce, / And dost not know the Garment from the Man. / Every Harlot was a Virgin once, / Nor canst thou ever change Kate into Nan.
- 1915, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter LXXVII, in Of Human Bondage, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, OCLC 890513588:
- He was stopped by a painted harlot, who put her hand on his arm; he pushed her violently away with brutal words.
- 1918, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Hail! Childish Slaves Of Social Rules”, in New Poems and Variant Readings, London: Chatto & Windus:
- O fine religious, decent folk, / In Virtue’s flaunting gold and scarlet, / I sneer between two puffs of smoke,— / Give me the publican and harlot.
- 1980, Dave Murray (lyrics and music), “Charlotte the Harlot”, in Iron Maiden, performed by Iron Maiden:
- Charlotte the Harlot show me your legs, / Charlotte the Harlot take me to bed. / Charlotte the Harlot let me see blood, / Charlotte the Harlot let me see love.
- (derogatory, offensive) A female who is considered promiscuous.
- Synonyms: skeezer, slut, whore; see also Thesaurus:promiscuous woman
- (obsolete) A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth, especially one given to low conduct.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:villain
- 1544, R. Tracy, Supplycacion to Kynge Henry VIII:
- By suche ydle and wicked harlottes the enheritaunce of Christe is troden vnder fote.
- a. 1653, “Joseph Tempted to Adultery”, in Zion's Flowers, published 1855, page 103:
- When lust doth rage it like a canker frets;
It topsie turvie, upside downe all sets; […]
Where once it reigneth, there it maketh sure,
A man a harlot, and a wife a whoore;
- 1659, Daniel Pell, Pelagos […] Or, An improvement of the sea […] , page 37:
- [Take into your service] none but such as deny all ungod∣liness, and worldly lusts, and live soberly, chastely, and moderately in the Seas, and whose speech is not stinking, and unclean, as most Sea-mens are. What should you do with such Harlots in your service? which calls for holiness, and better principled men.
Derived terms
- harlotize
- harlotry
Translations
a female prostitute
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female considered promiscuous
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Verb
harlot (third-person singular simple present harlots, present participle harloting or harlotting, simple past and past participle harloted or harlotted)
- To play the harlot; to practice lewdness.
- Synonyms: harlotize; see also Thesaurus:harlotize
- 1614, John Milton, Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defense against Smectymnuus:
- […] they that spend their youth in loitering, bezzling, and harlotting, their studies in unprofitable questions, and barbarous sophistry
Adjective
harlot (comparative more harlot, superlative most harlot)
- (now uncommon) Wanton; lewd; low; base.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:obscene
- 1943, Nick Joaquin, “It was Later than we Thought”, in Philippine Review:
- The intellection in it, kiddo—the intellection.... That most harlot of harlots... talking of me, laughing at me... I'll kill her....
Anagrams
- thoral
Middle English
Noun
harlot
- a churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth
- 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, OCLC 932884868:
- He was a gentil harlot and a kynde
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
-
- a person given to low conduct; a rogue; a cheat; a rascal
- 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, OCLC 932884868:
- Ye false harlot (quod the myller) haste
A false traytour, false clerke (quod he)
Thou shalte be deed by goddes dignyte- (please add an English translation of this quote)
-