Broth"el (?), n. [OE. brothel, brodel, brethel, a prostitute, a worthless fellow, fr. AS. beroan to ruin, destroy; cf. AS. breotan to break, and E. brittle. The term brothel house was confused with bordel brothel. CF. Bordel.]
A house of lewdness or ill fame; a house frequented by prostitutes; a bawdyhouse.
© Webster 1913.