Harlot is said to be derived from Harlotta, the mother of William the Conqueror, but it is more likely to
be a corruption of horlet (a little hireling), "hore" being the past participle of hyran (to hire). It was once
applied to males as well as females. Hence Chaucer speaks of "a sturdy harlot ... that was her hostes
man." The word varlet is another form of it.

"He was gentil harlot, and a kinde;
A bettre felaw shulde man no wher finde
Chaucer: Canterbury Tales, prol. 649.

"The harlot king is quite beyond mine arm."
Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, ii. 3.


My dictionary says it was originally euphemism for whore, and now means prostitute