General
madam
What does madam mean?
The female manager of a brothel. She books the clients, vets the punters, sets the house rates, takes a cut, and keeps the workers in line. Often a retired sex worker herself, which is where the institutional knowledge comes from.
"The madam wouldn't let a punter through the door without a referral from a regular."
Origin
From the French 'madame' (my lady), a polite form of address that drifted into brothel-keeper slang in 19th-century English.
Frequently asked questions
What does madam mean in this sense?
It refers to the woman running a brothel.
How do you use madam in a sentence?
"The madam handled the bookings and kept the whole place in order."
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