Old English; earliest use found in Old English Martyrology. From classical Latin meretrīx from merēre to earn as pay, to earn money by prostitution + -trīx.
Definition of meretrix in US English:
meretrix
nounˈmɛrɪtrɪks
literary
A prostitute.
Origin
Old English; earliest use found in Old English Martyrology. From classical Latin meretrīx from merēre to earn as pay, to earn money by prostitution + -trīx.