harlot

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.

harlot (plural harlots)

1. (derogatory, offensive, dated) A female prostitute.
   • William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors: Act 5, scene 1, 204–205

     This day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me, / While she with harlots feasted in my house.

   • 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.

   • 1980, Dave Murray, "Charlotte the Harlot", in Iron Maiden, 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.

2. (derogatory, offensive) A female who is considered promiscuous.

   Synonyms: skeezer, slut, whore

3. (obsolete) A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth.
   • Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue:

     He was a gentil harlot and a kynde;

4. (obsolete) A person given to low conduct; a rogue; a cheat; a rascal.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

• (female prostitute): see Thesaurus:prostitute
• (promiscuous woman): see Thesaurus:promiscuous woman
• (churl): see Thesaurus:rural dweller
• (person given to low conduct): see Thesaurus:villain

harlot (third-person singular simple present harlots, present participle harloting or harlotting, simple past and past participle harloted or harlotted)

1. To play the harlot; to practice lewdness.
   • 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

• harlotize

harlot (comparative more harlot, superlative most harlot)

1. (now uncommon) Wanton; lewd; low; base.
   • 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....

• See Thesaurus:obscene

• thoral