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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?"
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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
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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.
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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 ...
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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.
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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]
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My dictionary gives "Cypriot" as first meaning of "Cyprian". Says Archaic for wanton, licentious
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Does Cypriot rhyme with apricot?
Best rhymes,
WordWeighted
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