Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HAR'LOT, n. [W. herlawd, a stripling; herlodes, a hoiden; a word composed of her, a push, or challenge, and llawd, a lad. This word was formerly applied to males, as well as females. A sturdie harlot – that was her hostes man. Chaucer, Tales. He was a gentil harlot and a kind. Ibm. The word originally signified a bold stripling, or a hoiden. But the W. llawd, signifies not only a lad, that is, a shoot, or growing youth, but as an adjective, tending forward, craving, lewd. See Lewd.]

1. A woman who prostitutes her body for hire; a prostitute; a common woman. Dryden.
2. In Scripture, one who forsakes the true God and worships idols. Is. i.
3. A servant; a rogue; a cheat. [Obs.] Chaucer. Fox.