Doxy

Description

Slang for a mistress or prostitute.

Last updated by Phil Gyford on 29 December 2009

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• - CGS on Tue 5 Jan 2010, 11:58pm. Flag this

  OED
  doxy
  Derivation unknown: perh. like some other terms of rogues’ cant, of continental origin; possibly a deriv. of DOCK n.2 3.]

  Originally the term in Vagabonds’ Cant for the unmarried mistress of a beggar or rogue: a beggar’s trull or wench: hence, slang, a mistress, paramour, prostitute; dial., a wench, sweetheart.
  c1530 Hickscorner in Hazl. Dodsley I. 188 Of the stews I am made controller..There shall no man play doccy there.. Without they have leave of me.

  1561 J. AWDELAY Frat. Vacab. 4 His woman with him..which he calleth his Altham if she be hys wyfe, & if she be his harlot, she is called hys Doxy. Ibid. 5 So she is called a Doxy, vntil she come to ye honor of an Altham [in Harman Autem].

  1611 SHAKES. Wint. T. IV. ii. 2 With, heigh the Doxy ouer the dale.

  1611 DEKKER Roaring Girle Wks. 1873 III. 217 My doxy stayes for me in a bousing ken.

  sometimes the short version of
  [The latter part of the words orthodoxy, heterodoxy, etc., from Gr. {delta}{goacu}{xi}{alpha} opinion.]

References in the diary

1667

Jan: 5