ETYM Old Eng. baude, Old Fren. balt, baut, baude, bold, merry, perh. from Old High Germ. bald bold; or from Celtic, cf. W. baw dirt. Related to Bold, Bawdry.
(Homonym: baud).
A person who keeps a house of prostitution, or procures women for a lewd purpose; a procurer or procuress; a lewd person; -- usually applied to a woman.