noun
- plural of bawd; people who keep brothels or procure prostitutes
Usage: archaic; offensive
Examples
- The historical novel depicted the bawds of 18th-century London.
- Medieval records mention bawds being punished by local authorities.
- Shakespeare’s plays often featured bawds as minor characters.
- The court documents listed several bawds among those arrested.
- Historical accounts describe how bawds operated in port cities.