What Did They Call Prostitutes in the Old West?

In the Old West, prostitutes were commonly referred to as ‘soiled doves.’ This term was used to describe women who worked in brothels or engaged in prostitution. The name ‘soiled dove’ was a euphemism that reflected the societal attitudes of the time, combining the idea of a dove, which symbolizes purity, with the word ‘soiled,’ indicating that these women were considered tainted or impure. Other terms used included ‘sporting women,’ ‘ladies of the night,’ and ‘fallen women.’ These terms were often used to soften the reality of their profession and to maintain a certain level of decorum in public discourse.