Definition

Noun: - A brothel; a building where prostitution occurs: A "sporting house" is an establishment, often disguised as a legitimate business, where people can pay for sexual services from prostitutes. This term is now considered dated and euphemistic.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The police raided the old sporting house on the edge of town.
  • In the 19th-century novel, the character was rumored to be the owner of a sporting house.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Euphemistic Context: The term "sporting house" was commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a less direct, somewhat slang term for a brothel. Its use today is primarily historical or in period-specific writing.
  • The saloon was a front for a notorious sporting house in the Wild West.

Variants and Related Words

• Brothel (n): The standard, more direct term for a house of prostitution.
• Bordello (n): Another term for a brothel, often with connotations of being lavishly decorated.
• Whorehouse (n): A vulgar and direct slang term for a brothel.
• Cathouse (n): A common slang term for a brothel.

Synonyms

• House of ill repute: A formal euphemism for a brothel.
• Bawdy house: An old-fashioned term for a brothel.

Notes on Meaning

This word has a single, specific meaning. It is important to note that "sporting house" is not related to athletics or sports in any way. The "sporting" in this context is an archaic slang reference to illicit or risqué activities.

Noun

1. a building where prostitutes are available