"bawdy house," c.1593, shortened from
brothel-house, from
brothel "prostitute" (1493), earlier "vile person" (of either sex), 14c., from O.E.
broðen pp. of
breoðan "deteriorate, go to ruin," from P.Gmc.
*breuthanan, var. of
*breutanan "to break." In 16c.
brothel-house was confused with unrelated
bordel (see
bordello) and shifted meaning from a person to a place.
[broth-uh
l, broth