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#64037 04/05/02 11:47 PM
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A "siron" is a male "siren". What is the male version of a "strumpet"?


#64038 04/06/02 12:59 AM
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A "siron" is a male "siren". What is the male version of a "strumpet"? -Moss

OK Moss, normally I wouldn't give that self evident question the dignity of a reply. But since I laughed at your report about Clinton calling a military fiasco an incomplete success I will hereby state the obvious...

The male version of a strumpet is, of course, a sthumpet.



#64039 04/06/02 01:13 AM
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are there still such a thing as a strumpet?

in NY (and NY based movies or TV shows) he might be a guido. Travolta, in Saturday Night Fever was a guido.




#64040 04/06/02 01:26 AM
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Seriously, folks, a male version of a strumpet would need to be an English term, right? So guido wouldn't really work--and giggolo wouldn't either. And the closest I can think of would be a rake, although a rake wouldn't get paid for services, right, as a strumpet would--at least I don't recall rakes getting paid for services. Check out the ads for Rent-a-RakeSo, rake isn't the right term. But I offer it up to get those English terms turning about in our brains.

And, while I'm thinking along these terms, does a floozie always get paid for services? Or is a floozie just a loose woman?

Baseball regards My dad's glued to the set
Dub


#64041 04/06/02 01:39 AM
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is a strumpet a professional? or just low class, and of loose morals?

a floozie to me, alway has little bit to much to drink, and is always over dressed, in ruffles, and slightly disarrayed.

rake, to me, is today's "date rapist"-- an ill mannered opportunist. a cad is just ill mannered. he's the guy that takes you out, and spends the entire night looking at other womans breasts, and if he is lucky, ditches you, and goes home with someone else.

a bimbo is a dumb blonde. she is so dumb, she somehow always marries the richest guy around.. mean while us non bimbo's get to marry the hard working men-- and if we are unlucky, they get rich, turn into cads, and go home with a bimbo!


#64042 04/06/02 01:51 AM
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Dear Helen,

Funny stuff you've written up there!

Here's what I found on floozie:

[bold]streetwalker, street girl, hooker, hustler, floozy, floozie, slattern -- (a prostitute who attracts customers by walking the streets)
prostitute, cocotte, whore, harlot, trollop, bawd, tart, cyprian, fancy woman, working girl, sporting lady, lady of pleasure, woman of the street
[/bold]

...now on to strumpets....

DubDub

PS: Just this on strumpets: SYLLABICATION: strum·pet
PRONUNCIATION: strmpt
NOUN: A woman prostitute.


Now...what were comparable men called who were paid for their services in the British Isles? How 'bout trumpets?

#64043 04/06/02 10:43 AM
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rakes, guidos, floozies, bimbos
These are all judgmental terms from another epoch, wouldn't you say, Wordwind? "Rakes" have become "date rapists" and "floozies" have become "panthers". Who would have thunk we would see the day when comely young men are exploited by middle-aged panthers who boast about their conquests while they are doing their nails at the Country Club?


#64044 04/06/02 12:19 PM
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Yep, they're judgmental terms fersure.

Cyprian is a new term to me. Don't ever recall reading that one. Wonder what it's history is? Wonder whether I'll take the time to look it up?

Best regards,
WordWondering


#64045 04/06/02 01:21 PM
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Siron variant of Ciron obs.

Ciron the Itch-mite (Aacarus scabiei)


Brick and Mortar OED


#64046 04/06/02 02:18 PM
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Edit: In Greek mythology, the goddess Venus was "born" at the island of Cyprus. "Venus (Aphrodite), the goddess of love and beauty, was the daughter of Jupiter and Dione. Others say that Venus sprang from the foam of the sea. The zephyr wafted her along the waves to the Isle of Cyprus ..."
Bullfinch's Mythology, http://www.bartleby.com/181/011.html [/edit]

------------

cyprian: adj 2: resembling the ancient orgiastic worship of Aphrodite on Cyprus
n 1: a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money [synonyms listed]

WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University [I believe this site has moved; citation taken as it appears in dictionary.com]




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On the subject of "strumpet" and Dub-Dub's synonyms, I recall a conversation several years ago among dr. bill, a client of mine [I'm a real-estate attorney] and me. One of us had used the phrase "world's oldest profession", which led us to speculate on what profession is truly the oldest.

"Notice," said dr. bill, "that in Genesis, the very first book of the bible -- indeed as early as the second chapter, the sixth day of Creation -- God created Eve out of Adam's rib. This being a surgical operation, we have it on divine authority that medicine is the oldest profession."

To which my client rejoined, "But Bill, even earlier, at the start of the first chapter, God created the earth and the heavens out of chaos. This was of course the first (and greatest) real-estate development."

Lawyer Keiva grinned evilly. "And who, sirs, do you think created the chaos?"


#64048 04/06/02 02:59 PM
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What is the male version of a "strumpet"?

I've often heard a particularly lascivious gentleman referred to as a lecher, from lechery.
But this has no "professional" connotation, so is prolly not the male version of strumpet (unless strumpet is being used in the colloquial, amateur sense as Helen pointed out). Just like some folks might refer to a woman who has a reputation for being loose as a real whore, even though there's no formal, professional, monetary exchange involved.


Lecher \Lech"er\, n. [OE. lechur, lechour, OF. lecheor, lecheur,
gormand, glutton, libertine, parasite, fr. lechier to lick,
F. l['e]cher; of Teutonic origin. See Lick.]
A man given to lewdness; one addicted, in an excessive
degree, to the indulgence of sexual desire, or to illicit
commerce with women.


Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913




#64049 04/06/02 03:04 PM
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I found a site that says Thailand has an estimated 100,000 male prostitutes, slang term katoeys.
Also many in Philippines. I made post about MP Lt. showing me pictures of one, remember? Funny in a revolting way.


#64050 04/06/02 05:07 PM
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"Cyprian" was a term for a flower - don't know which one - but like all of them it buds, blooms for a while and dies. "Fair Cyprian" was a term for a lightskirt - prostitute, mistress or keen amateur - that was in vogue at the end of the C18. The word "Cyprian" itself refers to people from Cyprus. I've seen it in literature from that period, but what and when I can no longer recall.



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#64051 04/06/02 05:12 PM
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re: one addicted, in an excessive degree, to the indulgence of sexual desire

very few prostitutes are in the business because they are sex addicts, or even have a higher than average desire for sex.

Most actually come to dislike the sex act (it becomes work.)

but discussing the psychology of sex might not be a topic to persue.

in western society, christianity (especially RC church) has made sex, (the physical act)and sexual desires into taboos.

there is very little of this in Judism, which values morality, and marriage (so adultry is a prohibbited) but premartial, consentual sex? it not encouraged, but there is a old joke about the top 15 biblical ways to get a wife, (starts with give up a rib), and one way it, sleep with the maiden you love, get her with child, tell her father what you have done... it makes light of biblical stories, but it does have an elemant of truth. so long as a man is willing to be responsible, and the woman was of age, and willing, there is not really a problem.

meanwhile, in christianity, st ursula, and her friend XI mille (or was it 1100 friends?) all became "virgin martyrs". there might have been some virginity cults in Roman or Greek culture, but christianity made it big time. and islamic culture copied it. (so suiside bombers are all getting rewarded with 72 virgins.)

2000 years of this anti sex culture has left our language rich with name for 'sexual sinners' and since it's never very evident that men have engaged in sex, (but it often is if women have), women much more than men have been sexually sterotyped in a negitive way. a thread filled with all the negitive term that have been used to hurt woman is not really the best place to head... IMHO.


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It is a sad commentary on condition of women in Roman days that "mereri" = to earn gave rise to "meretrix" meaning prostitute because there were few other ways a woman could earn money;.


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well dr bill what do you thing the woman of ancient greece and rome did all day? the had slave to cook, and prepare food. did they sit and read, and eat bon bons?

there is some evidence, (scant, but all history of woman's work is scant) that they were spinsters, and weavers. especially the greek women. the cloth they wove was one of the standard domestic product traded for copper, tin, silver and other metals that are naturally in short supply in greece. they prepared wine and olive oil for export, and all those sheep? were sheered, and the wool spun, and woven. and all those woolens? an other trade commodity.

nowdays, with so many synthetics and micro fibers, we forget how valualbe wool is. it can be spun and woven into a sheer cloth (tropical weight wools are nothing new) it insulates, even when wet. the grease from wool is an extremely high quality lubricant, good for human use, or industrial use.

there isn't much talk about how the populi (that is the men of the city, who's saw it as there job to run the city) earned money.. they lived in the city, so by defination, they were not farmers. what industry supported them?

their wives, like penelopy, sitting home, working at the loom!

but you're right, the woman wouldn't get to keep the money that was earned by their effort. and i expect, any woman who somehow did manage to get herself independent faced the risk of being denegraded. (it still happens now!)

roman woman might have had few choices, and even weaving might have been denied them.
it is speculated, that the famous Venus di Milo, was a sculpture of a woman, holding a drop spindle and spinning.


#64054 04/06/02 09:12 PM
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The word "Cyprian" itself refers to people from Cyprus
You mean as an adjective, Sweetie? I'd thought the proper noun was Cypriot. [seeking clarification e]


#64055 04/06/02 09:21 PM
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My dictionary gives "Cypriot" as first meaning of "Cyprian". Says Archaic for wanton, licentious


#64056 04/06/02 09:37 PM
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Does Cypriot rhyme with apricot?

Best rhymes,
WordWeighted


#64057 04/06/02 11:30 PM
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is either a strombone or a humpet



TEd
#64058 04/06/02 11:42 PM
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I vote for humpet.

Not that I know anything,
WordWhacked


#64059 04/07/02 12:07 AM
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strumbone or humpet
or perhaps a hungpet


#64060 04/07/02 12:45 AM
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We already had "gigolo". A similar meaning it attached to cicisbeo, a lover of married women, at least when he prefers to let the woman pick up the tab. To cross thread a moment, I overheard my mother use a euphemism for this, when she said an AC-DC young bachelor was Mrs. So-and-So's "accommodator".


#64061 04/07/02 01:57 AM
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it is speculated, that the famous Venus di Milo, was a sculpture of a woman, holding a drop spindle and spinning.

And that ain't no coon dog!



#64062 04/07/02 02:00 AM
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She goes by another name (or two) and has both arms. At least, that's what I heard.


#64063 04/07/02 02:22 AM
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I was told that the Venus de Milo was an extreme example of the ill effects of chewing the fingernails.


#64064 04/07/02 02:38 AM
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#64065 04/07/02 03:07 AM
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Dear Max: and is a "not" a 'nit"?


#64066 04/08/02 08:17 PM
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comely young men are exploited by middle-aged panthers who boast about their conquests

Interesting -- I've only ever heard the term cougars -- oh, well, whatever - as long as it's catty?
And it seems to be a relative term. A friend told me that his 18-year-old nephew complained about all the cougars at the local hangout. When asked how old they were, he said 25 or so!


#64067 04/08/02 08:43 PM
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I'm shedding great big tears. Where were all the cougars when I could have spread some catnip? Reminds me of cartoon in Esquire a long time ago, showing two women walking away from a flasher with widespread topcoat. One says to the other, But where are they when you want one?


#64068 04/09/02 03:13 AM
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There is the word 'catamite' (not to be confused with catamount), but this is generally taken to refer to a boy. I don't know that there is a word for what a catamite graduates to.


#64069 04/09/02 03:27 AM
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Jove's cupbearer?


#64070 04/09/02 12:24 PM
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Wasn't that Hebe - a lady goddesslet?


#64071 04/09/02 12:27 PM
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A "lady goddesslet", did I say? Not quite tautology, but I don't know enough about her to say whether she was a lady or not. Most of them weren't particularly noted for ladylike behaviour.


#64072 04/09/02 12:51 PM
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a word for what a catamite graduates to

Punk.


#64073 04/09/02 02:08 PM
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From catamite to punk is a flunk.


#64074 04/09/02 03:33 PM
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Now...what were comparable men called who were paid for their services in the British Isles? How 'bout trumpets?

Gives a whole new meaning to the line from a song from "Gypsy Rose" that went:
"If you're gonna bump it, bump it with a trumpet"!


#64075 04/10/02 11:29 AM
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It is reported that at Ms. Rose's initial public performance, when she stood paralyzed in stagefright and uncertainty, the stage manager whispered harshly from the wings, "Don't just stand there! Undo something!"


#64076 04/12/02 05:39 AM
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Not all katoey are prostitutes. I remember reading about one a couple of years ago who was a champion kick-boxer until the opposition managed to wangle a ruling from whatever body regulates kick-boxing that put an end to his career.

Bingley


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#64077 04/12/02 08:30 AM
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Interestingly, my Oxford Concise gives the definition of prostitute as:
1) a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
2) a man who engages in such activity
3) a person who offers his talent for unworthy purposes
so I guess that your catamite might graduate to become a prostitute and that we just tack 'male' on the front to differentiate.
Over here the term used for a male prostitute pre-graduation would be 'rent boy'.


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