world's oldest profession
English
Alternative forms
- oldest profession in the world
Etymology
1888,[1] coined by Rudyard Kipling as “most ancient profession in the world”.[2] Alternative forms appeared in early 1900s, present form popular by 1930s.[2] Similar terms with various senses (not necessarily prostitution) exist in other languages.
Noun
the world's oldest profession (plural not attested)
- (euphemistic) Prostitution.
- 1888, Rudyard Kipling, On the City Wall:
- Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world.
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Translations
- Some local terms have slight variants while others are strict translations with varying degrees of usage.
euphemism for prostitution
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References
- “world's oldest profession” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
- Is Prostitution Really the World's Oldest Profession? It is pretty old., by Forrest Wickman, Slate, March 6, 2012
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