bordello
UK[bɔːˈdɛləʊ]US[bɔrˈdɛloʊ]
n
A house where men can pay to have sex with prostitutes; a brothel.
Etymology
The word 'bordello' entered English in the late 16th century directly from Italian, where 'bordello' was a diminutive of 'bordo', meaning a small hut or cabin. This Italian term traces back to a Germanic source, the Old High German 'bort', meaning "board" or "plank," reflecting the construction material of simple shelters. Over time in Italian, the specific meaning shifted from a humble dwelling to a house of prostitution, a semantic narrowing common for terms associated with marginalized spaces. English borrowed the word with this specialized meaning, retaining its Italian form to denote a brothel, often with connotations of being somewhat established or organized.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from Italian, where it is a diminutive form of "bordo" (meaning "hut" or "cabin"). Its ultimate origin is the Old High German "bort" (meaning "board, plank"), referring to the wooden structure of a simple dwelling.
Examples
The novel's protagonist wandered the narrow streets, past taverns and a notorious bordello.
The old part of the city was once known for its numerous bordellos.
Laws were passed to shut down the bordellos operating in the district.