Etymology

molly house

Today it means: A tavern or other establishment in 18th and 19th century England where homosexuals could meet for various activities, such as cross-dressing and sexual encounters. Full definition →

First used 18th c.
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The story

From the Victorian slang molly (“a male homosexual”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 18th c. A tavern or other establishment in 18th and 19th century England where homosexuals could meet for various activities, such as cross-dressing and sexual encounters.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.