fille de joie

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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 , volume (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

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

See also