scortum

Etymology
From. Compare, ,. See also, Proto-Germanic (whence English ), Ancient Greek , Albanian , Lithuanian , Welsh , Old Armenian. The sense may have arisen from the former  sense through scortum subigere ("beat leather; tan leather"), as an ancient metaphor for sexual intercourse. According to Festus, Scorta appellantur meretrices, quia ut pelliculae subiguntur 'prostitutes are called "leathers" because they are beaten/tanned like small skins'. Cf. Latin pellicula ("small skin", and "whore" in farce), Spanish pelleja ("skin, hide; whore"). Hammarström observes that skin removed from the animal is loose, flexible and lacks hold.

Noun

 * 1) skin, hide
 * 2) harlot, prostitute