painted lady
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A prostitute (in reference to their use of makeup).
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
In Cheyenne in 1883, a Dr. W.A. Wyan tried in vain to save painted lady Sallie Talbot.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “painted lady” mean?
A prostitute (in reference to their use of makeup).
Is “painted lady” formal or informal?
painted lady is generally dated, slang.