brothel
UK: ˈbrɒθ(ə)l | US: ˈbrɑːθ(ə)l
n. a house where people pay to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.
brothel = brothe<worthless person> + l (diminutive suffix)
- brothe (Middle English, from Old English brōþor, meaning "worthless person" or "degenerate")
- -l (diminutive or pejorative suffix, often used in Middle English to form nouns)
Etymology Origin:
The word "brothel" originally referred to a worthless or morally corrupt person in Middle English (derived from Old English brōþor). By the 16th century, it shifted to denote a place associated with such individuals—specifically, a house of prostitution. The suffix "-l" likely reinforced the derogatory connotation. The semantic evolution reflects societal attitudes toward vice and degradation.
The authorities raided an illegal brothel in the city center.
In the 19th century, brothels were often tolerated in certain districts.
The novel depicts the grim lives of women working in a brothel.
He was arrested for operating a brothel without a license.
The abandoned building was once a notorious brothel.