strumpet
pronunciation
How to pronounce strumpet in British English:
UK [ˈstrʌmpɪt]
How to pronounce strumpet in American English:
US [ˈstrʌmpɪt]
-
- Noun:
- a woman adulterer
Word Origin
- strumpet (n.)
- "harlot; bold, lascivious woman," early 14c., of uncertain origin. One theory connects it with Latin stuprata, fem. past participle of stuprare "have illicit sexual relations with," or Late Latin strupum "dishonor, violation." But evidence for this is wanting and others suggest Middle Dutch strompe "a stocking," or strompen "to stride, to stalk" (as a prostitute might a customer). The major sources don't seem to give much preference to any of these. Weekley notes "Gregory's Chronicle (c. 1450) has streppett in same sense." In 18c.-early 19c., often abbreviated as strum and also used as a verb, which led to some odd dictionary entries: TO STRUM: to have carnal knowledge of a woman, also to play badly on the harpsichord or any other stringed instrument. [Capt. Francis Grose, "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 1785]
Example
- 1. Othello . Are you not a strumpet ?
- 2. They even described her as being a strumpet and a whore .
- 3. And are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet .
- 4. You heard what I said , strumpet . I love kate !
- 5. The strumpet in the brothel was rather fat like a rat but my brother did not bother her .