cock-bawd

noun

A man who runs a brothel; a pimp.

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Meanings

nouncock-bawd (plural cock-bawds)

plural cock-bawds

  1. historicalA man who runs a brothel; a pimp.

    Mr. Brown (well known to be Proveditor-General in the Hundreds of Drury) was at the Door and wanted to speak with her herself, upon which she ordered her Maid to bid the Cock-Bawd come in, which she did […]

    1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of Sally Salisbury, section VI
    1 more example

    This gentleman no sooner entered the room, than Cadwallader, in a whisper to Gauntlet, asked if that was not the cock-bawd; and before the captain could make any reply, "What an unconscionable whore-master the rogue is! (said he) […] "

    1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
bludgerbullypanderpimpruffian

Origin

From cock (“male”) + bawd.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cock-bawd. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cock-bawd

MLA

“cock-bawd.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cock-bawd. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cock-bawd,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cock-bawd.

Source: cock-bawd on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.