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.

noun

1. (derogatory, offensive, dated) A female prostitute.
   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. 1908, William Blake, To the Accuser Who Is the God of This World
   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. 1918, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Hail! Childish Slaves Of Social Rules”, in New Poems and Variant Readings, London: Chatto & Windus
   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. 1980, Dave Murray (lyrics and music), “Charlotte the Harlot”, in Iron Maiden, performed by Iron Maiden
2. (derogatory, offensive) A female who is considered promiscuous.
3. (obsolete) 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. 1544, R. Tracy, Supplycacion to Kynge Henry VIII
   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; a. 1653, “Joseph Tempted to Adultery”, in Zion's Flowers, published 1855, page 103
   [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. 1659, Daniel Pell, Pelagos[…]Or, An improvement of the sea[…], page 37

verb

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 1614, John Milton, Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defense against Smectymnuus

adj

1. (now uncommon) 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.... 1943, Nick Joaquin, “It was Later than we Thought”, in Philippine Review