Pimp
/pɪmp/noun
A person who manages or profits from the prostitution of others, or a verb meaning to act as such a manager.
Did you know?Its origin is uncertain, but historical evidence connects early English pimp to words meaning showy, ornamental, or finely dressed—before its criminal sense became dominant.
Etymological Timeline
Late 16th–Early 17th Century
English
pimping
“Showy, ornamental, or ostentatious; an early related form recorded before the modern criminal sense became established.”
Early 17th Century
English
pimp
“A person associated with prostitution; the precise origin of this sense is uncertain.”
17th Century
English
pimp
“A procurer or manager who arranges sexual access for profit.”
18th Century
English
pimp
“A verb meaning to procure or manage prostitutes.”
Modern English
English
pimp
“A derogatory term for a person who profits from prostitution; also used informally as a verb meaning to decorate or customize extravagantly.”