fille de joie

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French fille de joie.

Noun

fille de joie (plural filles de joie)

1. A female prostitute; a courtesan.

   Synonym: joy girl

   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

     [A]fter he had spent some months, and a round sum of money, in fruitless attendance and addresses, he fairly quitted the pursuit, and consoled himself with the conversation of a merry Fille de joye, whose good graces he acquired by an allowance of twenty Louis per month […] .

   • 2005, Hermann Langbein, People in Auschwitz:

     He announced that anyone who volunteered as a fille de joie would be given her own room, clean clothes, sufficient food and cigarettes, and the opportunity to bathe every day.

French

Etymology

Literally, “girl of joy”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fij də ʒwa/

Noun

fille de joie f (plural filles de joie)

1. (euphemistic) lady of the night (female prostitute)

   Synonyms: prostituée, fille des rues, travailleuse du sexe

Descendants

• → English: fille de joie
• → English: daughter of joy (calque)
• → English: joy girl (calque)
• → German: Freudenmädchen (calque)

See also

• maison de joie