croshabell

English

Etymology

Blend of crouse (“lively, bold”) +‎ belle (“attractive woman”)

Noun

croshabell (plural croshabells)

1. (obsolete) A prostitute.
   • 1607, “How George Read a Play-Book to a Gentleman”, in The Jests of George Peele; republished in The Works of George Peele, 2nd edition, volume 2, London: William Pickering, 1829, page 290:

     […] in Italian called a curtezan, in Spain, a margerite, in French une curtain, in England, among the barbarous, a whore, but among the gentle, their usual associates, a punk: but now the word refined being latest, and the authority brought from a climate as yet unconquered, the fruitful county of Kent, they call them croshabell, which is a word but lately used, and fitting with their trade, being of a lovely and courteous condition.

Synonyms

• harlot, lady of the night, tweak; see also Thesaurus:prostitute