# bawd

> English word · Noun · IPA /bɔːd/

## Definitions
1. One who keeps a brothel, or procures women for prostitution; a procurer or madam.
2. A person who facilitates an immoral act, especially one of a sexual nature.
3. A lewd person.

## Etymology
From Middle English bawde, baude, from Old French baud (“bold, lively, jolly, gay”). Doublet of bold. An association with Welsh bawddyn (“dirty fellow, scoundrel”), from baw (“dirt”), was suggested by the Rev. Henry Todd.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bawd