Definition

Noun: - A house of prostitution; a brothel. A building where prostitutes are available for hire.

Usage

The word "bawdyhouse" is a formal and somewhat archaic term for a brothel. It is used to describe the physical establishment itself. It is a countable noun.

Examples

• The city council ordered the closure of the bawdyhouse on the outskirts of town.
• In the 19th century, the area was notorious for its gambling dens and bawdyhouses.
• The novel describes the protagonist's descent into poverty, ending with her working in a bawdyhouse.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often found in historical, legal, or literary contexts rather than in everyday modern conversation.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe a place perceived as corrupt or morally decadent, though this is less common.
  • The critic described the politician's mansion as a bawdyhouse of backroom deals.

Variants and Related Words

• Brothel (n): The most common modern synonym for a house of prostitution.
• Bordello (n): Another term for a brothel, often with connotations of being somewhat luxurious or exotic.
• Whorehouse (n): A blunt, vulgar term for a brothel.
• Cathouse (n): A slang term for a brothel.
• Bawdy (adj): Humor that is indecent or lewd, often dealing with sex in a comical way. This is the adjective from which "bawdyhouse" is derived.

Synonyms

• Brothel
• Bordello
• House of ill repute
• Sporting house (archaic)
• Disorderly house (legal term)

Idioms and Phrases

• "Bawdy house" is itself a fixed phrase and idiom, meaning a brothel. It does not commonly form other idioms or phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. a building where prostitutes are available