Brothel

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɒθəl

From Middle English brothel, brodel, brodelle, brethel ("a wretch, a depraved man or woman") (compare also Middle English bretheling ("a wretch")), apparently from an unrecorded Old English *brēoþel ("degenerative, corruptive"), related to Old English ābrēoþan ("to unsettle, degrade, ruin, frustrate, degenerate, deteriorate, fall away"); Old English ābroþen ("degenerate, base, trifling"); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *breuþaną ("to fall apart"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- ("to carve, cut, split, rub").

Full definition of brothel

Noun

1. A wretch; a depraved person; a lewd man or woman.

An abbreviation of ‘brothel-house’, ultimately from Old English ābrēoþan ("to degrade, deteriorate"), see above.

Noun

1. A house of prostitution.

Synonyms