a woman given to incontinency, or that makes a habit or a trade of prostituting her body. —The word is supposed to be used for the diminutive whorelet, a "little whore."—Others derive it from Arletta, mistress to Robert duke of Normandy, and mother to William the Conqueror: Camden derives it from one Arlotha, concubine to William the Conqueror: Others from the Italian Arlotta, "a proud whore."

Harlots were tolerated amongst Jews, Grecs, and Romans. Fornication indeed was prohibited among the Jews, under severe penalties; but those they explained as extending only to women of their own nation. The public fews were therefore stocked with foreign prostitutes, who seem to have been taken under the protection of government. Hence appears the reason why the word strange woman is often found to signify a harlot. Prostitutes at first wore veils or masks; but by and by their modesty was entirely put to flight, and they went abroad bare-faced. At Athens the prostitutes were generally strangers; and such as debauched an Athenian female were liable to a penalty. To frequent the public fews was not held disgraceful! The wisest of the Heathen sages allowed it! Solon permitted common whores to go publicly to the young men who had engaged them, and encouraged the youth of A- thenes to gratify their lust with these, rather than seduce and debauch the wives or daughters of citizens. Cato the censor was of the same sentiments; and Cicero challenges all persons to name a time when men were either reproved for this practice, or not countenanced in it. Amongst the Jews, the harlots used to ply in the highways and streets of cities; at Athens they frequented the ceramicus, Sciro, and the old forum.—In some places they were distinguished by their dress from other women. Corinth was a remarkable nursery of harlots, and gave birth to the noted Laïs. Their accomplishments were oftentimes great, in all the polite and elegant parts of female education, viz. philosophy, dancing, singing, rhetoric, &c. Aspasia, the mistress of Pericles, was admired by Socrates for her learning. The more accomplished prostitutes frequently amassed large fortunes: a remarkable instance of which we have in Phryne, who offered to rebuild the walls of Thebes, when destroyed by Alexander, on condition that they would perpetuate her memory and profession by an inscription. Prostitutes at Rome were obliged to fix a bill over their doors, indicating their character and profession. It was also customary for them to change their names, after they had signified to the prætor their intention of leading such a dissolute life: this they did, because their trade was unbecoming their birth and condition; but they reassumed their family names when they quitted their infamous mode of living. Women whose grandfather, father, or husband, had been a Roman knight, were forbidden by the laws to make a public profession of lewdness.