Stews

English Law: Stews in the Past

Places formerly permitted in England (see more about this legal system) to women of professed lewdness and who, for hire, would prostitute their bodies to all comers.

Developments

These places were so called because the dissolute people who visited them prepared themselves by bathing; the word stews being derived from the old French estuves, stove or hot bath. 3 Inst. 205. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

Resources

Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about stews is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including stews.

See Also