Dictionary

world's oldest profession en · NOUN

Pronunciation

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Etymology

First appears c. 1888, coined by Rudyard Kipling as most ancient profession in the world. Alternative forms appeared in the early 1900s, present form popular by the 1930s. Similar terms with various senses (not necessarily prostitution) exist in other languages.

Meanings

1. (euphemistic, no-plural) Prostitution.
   • Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world. 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “On the City Wall”, in In Black and White:
   • The company was extremely mixed. There were portly foreigners, opulent Jewesses, a sprinkling of the really smart, and several ladies belonging to the oldest profession in the world. 1929, Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery:

Forms

Translations (37)

ka უძველესი პროფესია (euphemism for prostitution) · tr dünyanın en eski işi (euphemism for prostitution) · nl het oudste beroep ter wereld (euphemism for prostitution) · el το αρχαιότερο επάγγελμα (euphemism for prostitution) · nb verdens eldste yrke (euphemism for prostitution) · de das älteste Gewerbe der Welt (euphemism for prostitution) · az dünyanın ən qədim peşəsi (euphemism for prostitution) · sl najstarejši poklic (euphemism for prostitution) · hy հնագույն մասնագիտություն (euphemism for prostitution) · he המקצוע העתיק ביותר בעולם (euphemism for prostitution) · tr dünyanın en eski mesleği (euphemism for prostitution) · sl najstarejši poklic na svetu (euphemism for prostitution) · ko 세계에서 가장 오래된 직업 (euphemism for prostitution) · gl o oficio máis vello do mundo (euphemism for prostitution) · is elsta atvinnugreinin í heimi (euphemism for prostitution) · it la professione più antica del mondo (euphemism for prostitution) · lt seniausia pasaulio profesija (euphemism for prostitution) · ro cea mai veche profesie din lume (euphemism for prostitution) · sk najstaršie remeslo (euphemism for prostitution) · et maailma vanim amet (euphemism for prostitution) · fi maailman vanhin ammatti (euphemism for prostitution) · es la profesión más antigua del mundo (euphemism for prostitution) · lv pasaules senākā profesija (euphemism for prostitution) · ru древне́йшее ремесло́ (euphemism for prostitution) · sh najstarija profesija na svetu (euphemism for prostitution) · ja 世界最古の職業 (euphemism for prostitution) · ru древне́йшая профе́ссия (euphemism for prostitution) · uk найда́вніша профе́сія (euphemism for prostitution) · sv världens äldsta yrke (euphemism for prostitution) · pt a mais velha profissão do mundo (euphemism for prostitution) · da verdens ældste erhverv (euphemism for prostitution) · cs nejstarší řemeslo (euphemism for prostitution) · pl najstarszy zawód świata (euphemism for prostitution) · lb eelste Beruff vun der Welt (euphemism for prostitution) · vi gái làng chơi (euphemism for prostitution) · sh најстарија професија на свету (euphemism for prostitution) · fr le plus vieux métier du monde (euphemism for prostitution)