doxy
Noun: 1. A woman who cohabits with an important man: A mistress or female companion, especially one who lives with a man without being married to him. Historically, this term often referred to the mistress of a clergyman, scholar, or other man of status. 2. A prostitute: An archaic or slang term for a woman who engages in sexual activity for payment.
The word "doxy" is archaic and is rarely used in modern English. It carries a derogatory and informal tone. It is primarily found in historical texts, literature, or used for stylistic effect to evoke a past era. It should be used with caution due to its pejorative nature.
- The 18th-century novel depicted the bishop's secret doxy living in a cottage on the estate.
- In the old ballad, the rogue sang of his many doxies in various towns.
- Historical/Literary Context: The term is almost exclusively used to add historical color or in discussions of older texts.
- The playwright used terms like "doxy" and "knave" to establish the story's Restoration-era setting.
- Doxie: An alternative spelling of "doxy."
- Paramour: (Noun) A lover, especially one in an illicit relationship. (More formal/neutral than "doxy").
- Concubine: (Noun) A woman who lives with a man but has lower status than a wife. (Often historical or cultural context).
- Mistress: (Noun) A woman having an ongoing sexual relationship with a man, especially a married man.
- Mistress
- Paramour
- Kept woman
- Courtesan (especially in a historical context)
- Prostitute (for the second, archaic meaning)
- Wife
- Spouse
The primary definition focuses on a cohabiting mistress, often of a man with social standing. The secondary definition as a prostitute is now largely obsolete. The word's usage implies an informal, often secretive or morally questionable relationship from the perspective of the time.
- a woman who cohabits with an important man