Skip to content

harlot

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L307918 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈhɑːlət/ / /ˈhɑɹlət/

adj

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.

  1. Wanton; lewd; low; base.

    The intellection in it, kiddo—the intellection.... That most harlot of harlots... talking of me, laughing at me... I'll kill her....

noun

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.

  1. A female prostitute.

    This day (great Duke) ſhe ſhut the doores vpon me, / While she with Harlots feaſted in my housſe.

    The bastard of a harlot, born in a brothel, suckled on gin, and familiar from earliest infancy with all the bestialities of debauch,[…]

  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.

    By suche ydle and wicked harlottes the enheritaunce of Christe is troden vnder fote.

    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;

verb

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.

  1. To play the harlot; to practice lewdness.

    […] they that spend their youth in loitering, bezzling, and harlotting, their studies in unprofitable questions, and barbarous sophistry