bawd
bawd · bawds
A lewd personA lewd person.
UK/bɔːd/US/bɔd/
Meaning
3 sensesA lewd person.
(archaic, historical)One who keeps a brothel, or procures women for prostitution; a procurer or madam.
(broadly, obsolete)A person who facilitates an immoral act, especially one of a sexual nature.
a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
Origin
From Middle English bawde, baude, from Old French baud (“bold, lively, jolly, gay”). DoublFrom Middle English bawde, baude, from Old French baud (“bold, lively, jolly, gay”). Doublet of bold. An association with Welsh bawddyn (“dirty fellow, scoundrel”), from baw (“dirt”), was suggested by the Rev. Henry Todd.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: bawdsSynonyms
14 synonymsClose in meaning
- a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money:prostitutecocotteharlottartcyprianfancy womanworking girlsporting lady
Word family
5 related wordsRelatedbawdy