cock-bawd

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From cock (“male”) +‎ bawd.

Noun[edit]

cock-bawd (plural cock-bawds)

  1. (now historical) A man who runs a brothel; a pimp.
    • 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of Sally Salisbury, section VI:
      Mr. Brown (well known to be Proveditor-General in the Hundreds of Drury) was at the Door and wanted to speak with her herself, upon which she ordered her Maid to bid the Cock-Bawd come in, which she did […]
    • 1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle:
      This gentleman no sooner entered the room, than Cadwallader, in a whisper to Gauntlet, asked if that was not the cock-bawd; and before the captain could make any reply, "What an unconscionable whore-master the rogue is! (said he) […] "
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