'whorehouse' originates from Middle English, specifically the words 'hore' meaning 'prostitute' and 'hous' meaning 'house'.

'hore' transformed into the modern English word 'whore', and 'hous' became 'house', eventually forming the compound word 'whorehouse'.

Initially, it meant 'a house where prostitutes live', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.