English Explanatory Dictionary

harlot

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A female prostitute.
  2. A female who is considered promiscuous.
  3. A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth, especially one given to low conduct.
verb
  1. To play the harlot; to practice lewdness.
adj
  1. Wanton; lewd; low; base.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɑːlət/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-harlot.wav /ˈhɑɹlət/ en-us-harlot.ogg

Word forms

harlot harlots harloting harlotting harloted harlotted more harlot most harlot

Etymology

From Middle English harlot, from Old French harlot, herlot, arlot (“vagabond; tramp”), of obscure origin. Likely to be 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.

Synonyms

abandons alley cat almah bangtail Bankside lady bargirl bat beotch blouze blowen blowsabella brass nail brasser brass broad business girl calico queen callet cat chippy chromo coaster cockatrice cocotte comfort girl comfort woman commoner Covent Garden nun creature of the night croshabell daughter of joy dollymop doxy drab Dutch widow escort fille de joie flap floozie fornicatrix frail sister Fulham virgin gamester gay lady geebag gillian gill girl rented overnight good-time girl GRO hackney harlot Haymarket ware hireling 'ho hoer hoe hook hooker hustler

Derived words

hap-harlot harlotize harlotry
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