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Prostitute

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Anderson (1889)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

A female given to indiscriminate lewdness for gain.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A strumpet; to offer freely to a lewd use, or to indiscriminate lewdness. See 54 Me. 24, 89 Am. Dec. 716.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A woman who indiscriminately consorts with men for hire. Carpenter v. Pcople, 8 Barb. (N. Y.) 611; State v, Stoyell, 54 Me, 24, 89 Am. Dec. 716.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

A woman who practices indiscriminate lewdness for the purposes of gain.

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

A female given to indiscriminate lewdness for gain.^ But incontinence with one or two may suffice.' A woman who is unchaste, who has surrendered herself to illicit sexual intercourse with men.4 Common prostitute. A public prostitute, who makes a business of selling the use of her person to the male sex for thepurpose of illicit intercourse.'' A woman may be a prostitute and have illicit connection with one man only; but, to be a " common " prostitute, her lewdness must be more general and indiscriminate.* Prostitution. 1. In i(;s most general sense, the act of setting one's self up for sale, or of devoting to infamous purposes what is in one's power: as, the prostitution of talents or abilities, the prostitution of the press, etc. 2.

In a more restricted sense, the act or practice of a female offering her body to an indiscriminate intercourse with men; the common lewdness of a female.^ Not defined at common law; offenses of the nature not being punishable b.v common-law tribunals. The definitions of Walker, Webster, and Johnston refer to the act of permitting illicit intercourse for hire, an indiscriminate intercourse, or what is deemed '' public " prostitution: common, indiscriminate, sexual intercourse, in distinction from sexual intercourse confined exclusively to one individual. The word has been used in a more loose and general sense."* While the testimony of prostitutes is to be closely scrutinized, credit is not to be withheld if the testimony appears to be worthy of confidence.' See Abduction; Bawd.