Pimping
/ˈpɪm.pɪŋ/noun
The act of acting as a pimp, or, informally, customizing or promoting something in an ostentatious style.
Did you know?The origin of “pimp” is genuinely uncertain; unlike many supposedly secretive words, scholars cannot securely trace it to a single older root or magical tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Late 16th–Early 17th Century
English
pimp
“A person who arranges or profits from prostitution; the word’s earliest precise origin is uncertain.”
17th Century
English
pimp
“To act as a pimp or procure customers for a prostitute.”
17th–18th Century
English
pimp
“A verb associated with procuring or serving prostitutes.”
20th Century
English
pimp
“Also used informally to mean decorating, customizing, or making something conspicuously stylish.”
Modern English
English
pimping
“The present participle or gerund of “pimp,” referring either to procuring prostitution or, informally, to flashy customization or promotion.”