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Added 5 October 2026

harlot

/ˈhɑːlət/ noun

In Latin: scortum, meretrix Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about harlot at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A female prostitute.
A female who is considered promiscuous.
A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth, especially one given to low conduct.

verb

To play the harlot; to practice lewdness.

adjective

Wanton; lewd; low; base.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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