Demirep

Full definition of demirep

(plural demireps)

(colloquial, dated) A woman of doubtful reputation or suspected character; an adventuress.

1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, page 569:he had no knowledge of that character which is vulgarly called a demirep; that is to say, a woman who intrigues with every man she likes, under the name and appearance of virtue ... in short, whom everybody knows to be what nobody calls her.
1813, Leigh Hunt, in a journal article about the prince.(Chambers, R.. "'The Book of Days': A miscellany of popular antiquities. Londres: W & R Chambers, 1832." Google Books):... in short, this delightful, blissful, wise, pleasurable, honourable, virtuous, true, and immortal prince, was a violator of his word, a libertine, over head and ears in disgrace, a despiser of domestic ties, the companion of gamblers and demireps ....
1822, Thomas de Quincey, :... the greater part of our confessions (that is, spontaneous and extra-judicial confessions) proceed from demireps, adventurers, or swindlers ....
1904, Oscar Wilde, :With the mincing step of a demirep
Some sidled up the stairs ....
1932, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society 2010, p. 65:In this new world, ruled by charlatans and dominated by demireps, Talleyrand may have found much to shock his sense of decorum, but little to outrage his moral standards.