Strumpet is an old and insulting word for a prostitute. Called her a strumpet, a bold strumpet, the strumpet of the play.
It is archaic and survives almost entirely in Shakespeare and in deliberate imitation of him. Like nearly every word of its kind it was aimed only at women and used to shame them; sex worker is the neutral modern term.
1nounstrumpetA prostitute, in old and insulting use.
“In the old play, the jealous husband calls his innocent wife a strumpet.”
strumpet is an old insult.
Also accepted in games: harlot
Middle English strumpet, of uncertain origin, possibly from a Dutch or Latin root.
Latin
stuprum — violation
Middle Dutch
strompen — to stalk
Middle English
strumpet
English, today
strumpet
Built from
From Middle English strumpet, strompet, strumpett. Further origin uncertain; possibly from Middle Dutch strompen (“to stalk”) or strompe (“stocking”); or Latin stuprum (“violation”) or stuprare (“to violate”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in A Song of Ice and Fire