Wiktionary

scortum

Latin

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Etymology

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From Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”). Compare scrōtum, scrautum, scrūta. See also corium, Proto-Germanic *skeraną (whence English shear), Ancient Greek κείρω (keírō, “I cut off”), Albanian harr (“to cut, to mow”), Lithuanian skìrti (“separate”), Welsh ysgar (“separate”), Old Armenian քերեմ (kʻerem, “to scrape, scratch”). The prostitute sense may have arisen from the former skin, leather sense through scortum subigere ("beat leather; tan leather"), as an ancient metaphor for sexual intercourse. According to Festus, Scorta appellantur meretrices, quia ut pelliculae subiguntur 'prostitutes are called "leathers" because they are beaten/tanned like small skins'. Cf. Latin pellicula ("small skin", and "whore" in farce), Spanish pelleja ("skin, hide; whore"). Hammarström observes that skin removed from the animal is loose, flexible and lacks hold.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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scortum n (genitive scortī); second declension

  1. skin, hide
  2. harlot, prostitute

Declension

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Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case Singular Plural
Nominative scortum scorta
Genitive scortī scortōrum
Dative scortō scortīs
Accusative scortum scorta
Ablative scortō scortīs
Vocative scortum scorta

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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References

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