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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1801-1828, 1935

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BORDEL, n. A brothel. Now obs. in Eng., latest quot. in N.E.D. a.1722. Not given in Concise and Un. Eng. Dicts.Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth viii.:
And using as little ceremony with our daughters' sleeping-chambers, as if they were in a bordel in Paris.

Hence bordeller, a frequenter of brothels. N.E.D. gives this as "brothel-keeper."Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xix.:
But this peevish Catharine uses me as if I were a brawler and a bordeller!

Comb.: bordel house, a brothel.Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Fruits of Time Parings 35:
The fowk 'ill think,'at's gaen by, We keep a Bordel house.Abd.22 1935

[O.Sc. bordale (c.1400), bordel, borthel (1623), a brothel, bordalour, a keeper or frequenter of brothels (D.O.S.T.); O.Fr. bordel, orig. a hut, cabin, brothel; dim. of borde, a cabin, from bord, a plank, which was extended to mean a building made of such planks (Hatz. and Darm.). Bordel also exists in Mid.Eng., where it became confused with brothel, a lewd person, a base wretch, whence was made brothel-house, a house for vile people, afterwards contracted to brothel. (See Skeat and N.E.D. s.v. brothel.)]

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"Bordel n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bordel>

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