1530, "to offer to indiscriminate sexual intercourse (usually in exchange for money)," from L.
prostituere "to expose to prostitution, expose publicly," from
pro- "before" +
statuere "cause to stand, establish" (see
stature). The noun sense of "harlot" is from 1613, from L.
prostituta "prostitute," fem. of
prostitutus, pp. of
prostituere. The notion of "sex for hire" is not inherent in the etymology, which rather suggests one "exposed to lust" or sex "indiscriminately offered." However, this is now almost the official European term for the institution, e.g. Ger.
protstituierte, Rus.
prostitutka, etc. Fig. sense (of abilities, etc.) is from 1593. The noun meaning "a woman who offers her body indiscriminately" (usually for money) is from 1613. Of men, in ref. to homosexual acts, recorded from 1886 (in form
prostitution).
[pros-ti-toot, -tyoot] 
noun, verb, -tut⋅ed, -tut⋅ing.
