bawd

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bawd pander, procuress XIV. The fuller form bawdstrot, Sc. bald(e)strod (XIV–XV) suggests ult. deriv. from OF. baudetrot, baudestroyt, app. f. baud lively, gay (- Gmc. *bald- BOLD) + the word repr. by AN. trote old woman.
Hence bawdry XIV. bawdy XVI, sb. XVII; see -Y1.

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