harlot

Pronunciation: /ˈhɑɹlət/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

prostitute, cocotte, whore, bawd, tart, cyprian, fancy woman, working girl, sporting lady, lady of pleasure, woman of the street

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
woman
Narrower (hyponyms)
demimondaine, camp follower, call girl, comfort woman, streetwalker, white slave

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