harlot
UK[ˈhɑːlət]US[ˈhɑːrlət]
n
a woman who has sex with men for money; a prostitute.
Etymology
the word 'harlot' entered english from old french 'herlot' or 'arlot', meaning a vagabond, rogue, or low fellow, a term originally applied to men. its ultimate origin is uncertain but may be from a germanic source. by the late 14th century, its meaning shifted in english to refer specifically to a promiscuous woman or a female prostitute, a semantic narrowing and gender-specific evolution that became fixed. the word's journey from a general term for a disreputable person to its modern, specific meaning illustrates a common pattern of pejorative semantic specialization.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword from old french. its spelling and form do not allow for segmentation into productive english morphemes.
Examples
in medieval literature, the character was often portrayed as a harlot with a heart of gold.
the term is now considered archaic and offensive, replaced by more modern terminology.
he used the old-fashioned word 'harlot' in his historical novel to maintain authenticity.