oldest profession:

Informal term for prostitution . This expression possibly derivesfrom Rudyard Kipling's coinage in 1888: ' the most ancient profession '.

QUOTES:

(1) Odette (Judith Vosselli) and Lulu (Marjorie Rambeau) in Inspiration (1931):
-- Odette: ' There are tricks in every trade .'
-- Lulu: ' You ought to know , dearest, you're trade is the oldest .'

(2) Kitty Packard (Jean Harlow) and Carlotta Vance (Marie Dressler) in Dinner at Eight (1933):
-- Kitty: ' I was reading a book the other day. (...) It's all about civilization or something, a nutty kind of book. Do you know that the guy said that machinery is going to take the place of every profession? '
-- Carlotta: ' Oh, dear, that's something you need never worry about .'

See Also: oldest profession, oldest trade, pimping, rear admiral, second oldest profession

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