or strum, subs. (old).—A harlot: see TART (B. E. and GROSE). As adj. = wanton; as verb = (1) to play the whore; and (2) to hold up to contempt as a strumpet; also STRUM = to copulate (GROSE and BYRON); STRUMPETOCRACY = government by the privities; and THE STRUM (or STRAM), subs. = street-walking.

1

  1593.  SHAKESPEARE, Comedy of Errors, ii. 2. 146.

        STRUMPETED by the contagion.
    Ibid. (1602). Othello, v. 1.
  Bian.  I am no STRUMPET; but of life as honest
As you that thus abuse me.’

2

  1594.  NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller (1890), 101. Out whore! STRUMPET … away with her to prison.

3

  1598.  FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes. Palandrina, a common queane, a harlot, a STRUMPET, a gill.

4

  1608.  MIDDLETON, A Trick to Catch the Old One, v. 1. Daintily abus’d! you’ve put a just upon me—a common STRUMPET.

5

  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Gaultière, A whore, drab, queane, STRUMPET.

6

  1622.  MARMION, Holland’s Leaguer, ii. 2.

        Or didst thou think that I could be corrupted
To personate a STRUMPET’S dalliance?

7

  1630.  R. C., The Times’ Whistle [E.E.T.S.], 88, l. 2789.

        Of shamelesse STRUMPETS, whose vncurbèd swing
Many poor soules vnto confusion bring.

8

  1633.  FORD, The Broken Heart, iv. 2. Poor Penthea’s name is STRUMPETED.

9

  1681.  A. RADCLIFFE, Ovid Travestie, 75. You now have caught a most notorious STRUMPET.

10

  d. 1704.  T. BROWN, Works, ii. 52. Keeping a saucy STRUMPET under my nose.

11

  1818.  BYRON, Beppo, ii.

        Guitars, and every other sort of STRUMMING.
    Ibid., ‘To Thomas Moore.’
Guitarring and STRUMMING,
  Oh Thomas Moore!

12

  c. 1857.  CARLYLE, Miscellanies, iv. 80. The STRUMPETOCRACY sits at its ease, in high-cushioned lordliness.

13

  1887.  W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night. You judes that clobber for the STRAMM.

14