bawdy-house

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bawdy-house" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a house of ill repute or a brothel, often in a historical or literary context. Example: "In the novel, the protagonist frequented a bawdy-house, seeking solace from his troubled life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Keeping or living in a "common bawdy-house", "living off the avails" or "communicating for the purposes of prostitution" are all offences under the Criminal Code.

The Economist

It will come as no surprise to anyone who read Ian's post on college slang that an "Academy" was a university, but also a "Bawdy-house".

The New Yorker

The constitutional challenge was brought by two prostitutes and a dominatrix who was convicted under the bawdy-house law for running what she called the "Bondage Bungalow".

The New York Times

(He said he could not bring himself to call Mrs Gandhi "Madame", because it reminded him of a bawdy-house).Yet General Manekshaw himself recounted a cabinet meeting in Mrs Gandhi's office in April 1971.

The Economist

And the manic riot of his prose outdoes even the young O'Casey; he conscripts metaphors, rapes the dictionary and builds a verbal bawdy-house where words mate and couple on the wing, like swifts.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The men who watch her performance back at the bawdy house also fall into a state of paralytic rapture.

The New York Times

Lucien wanted him to know Monsieur et Madame Papinien, proprietors of the maison particuliere, or the town's bawdy house.

The New Yorker

Our great-grandfathers would rather have been seen in a bawdy house than in a bank.

The Guardian - Books

In 1934, the folklorist Zora Neale Hurston wrote, "Jook is a word for a Negro pleasure house," often a "bawdy house" where black workers "dance, drink and gamble".

The New York Times

The decision, by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, overturns laws prohibiting "the keeping of a bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living on the avails of the trade".

The New York Times

On such nights, alleged the prosecutor, it became "a well-run bawdy house" with women who were not young but "could be described as amateurs taking part to raise money for Christmas".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bawdy-house", consider your audience and the context. It's a somewhat archaic term, so ensure it aligns with the overall tone and register of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "bawdy-house" in contexts where a more modern or neutral term like "brothel" would be more appropriate, particularly in formal or professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bawdy-house" functions as a noun, specifically a compound noun, denoting a place. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it is used to describe a specific type of establishment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bawdy-house" is a grammatically sound but somewhat archaic term for a brothel, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not frequently used in modern conversation, the Ludwig examples demonstrate its prevalence in historical and literary contexts, particularly within the news and media. For contemporary usage, synonyms like "brothel" or "house of prostitution" might be more suitable in professional and formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brothel

This is a direct synonym, referring to a place of prostitution.

house of prostitution

This is a more formal and descriptive synonym.

whorehouse

This is a more vulgar synonym for a brothel.

house of ill repute

This is a euphemistic term for a brothel or similar establishment.

disorderly house

This is a legal term, sometimes used to describe establishments where illegal activities occur, including prostitution.

cathouse

This is a slang term for a brothel.

妓院

This is the Chinese term for a brothel.

knocking shop

This is a British slang term for a brothel.

bordello

This is a slightly more formal, often historical, term for a brothel.

jook joint

This refers to a rural establishment, often in the southern United States, which sometimes included prostitution among other activities.

FAQs

What does "bawdy-house" mean?

A "bawdy-house" is an archaic term for a brothel or house of prostitution.

What's a more modern term for "bawdy-house"?

More modern terms include "brothel", "house of prostitution", or "whorehouse".

Is it appropriate to use "bawdy-house" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "bawdy-house" is somewhat archaic. Consider using a more neutral term like "brothel" in formal contexts.

How can I use "bawdy-house" in a sentence?

Example: "The historical novel depicted the vibrant life within the city's most infamous "bawdy-house".