On "The Bill" And Similar, Why Are Prostitutes Referred To As "Toms". I ...

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Steve, Leeds UK

• I too have wondered about this for a long time. The only connection that I could make was 'Thomas Moore' rhyming with 'whore.' It may be a bit of a leap from 'Thomas' to 'Tom', but then there are other more obtuse examples in rhyming slang.

  Dan Harper, Melton Mowbray UK

• When I joined the police and worked on the Prostitute Squad, an old sweat told me that 'Tom' is an abbreviation of 'Tommy Tucker'. I'll leave the rest for you to work out!

  Kenny Reeves, Hitchin England

• In the United States brothels are known as "cat houses" so despite our UK use of the word tomcat for a male of the species it could be that script writers saw the link as being of some interest.

  Jack Hill, St Albans England

• Not rhyming slang but from the French "tomb" (meaning fallen).

  Tim Harrison, London

• I have no foundation for this but the term "Tom and Dick" does seem appropriate (regardless of its usual medical usage)

  Polymer, Liverpool UK

• Sir Thomas Moore

  Kurt Beef, London England

• Thomas More = whore. I don't vouch for it being genuine - on 'Minder' 'Tom' was jewelery (= tom foolery). Half the time I think scriptwriters just make these up.

  Ian Stewart, Leicester Leicestershire

• Not rhyming slang, surely, but short for 'tom-cats' - out at night, looking for sex.

  Shan, Ilford UK

• And why are they also referred to as a 'brass'? Can't figure that one.

  annie, edinburgh

• I happen to have been on the 'ask the producer' section of The Bill website only today and the official answer from the makers of the programme is that it is short for tom-cat and used in Victorian times as slang due to the fact that prostitutes pursue their activities in alleyways at night.

  matt pearce, nottingham england

• "Brass" is rhyming slang. Short for "brass rubber" = scrubber.

  Neil Murray, London

• I assumed it was because they'd go with any Tom, Dick or Harry (...anyone know where 'Tom, Dick or Harry' comes from)?

  NJ, London UK

• I've been told 'brass' is rhyming slang; brass dart for tart. 'Tom', in Thailand, is slang for lesbian, from Tomboy.

  Percy Hales, Doha Qatar

• According to the O.E.D of Slang, it comes from Australia, is applied to women from the obsolete 'Tom-tart', rhyming slang for sweetheart.

  R Palmer, Cardiff Wales

• All very interesting. One posting says the link is rather tenuous; Rhyming slang sometimes is; take "bottle and glass " for arse which became "aris" short for Aristotle = "bottle" an abbreviation of rhyming slang! quite intriguing..

  Brian peacock, Cricklewood Britain

• The origin of the term "bird" for a female began in medieval times when a Bishop of the day allowed some women of easy virtue to ply their trade in a newly opened City of London bathhouse; they became known as "The Bishops canaries" which, ,over time, became "birds"..

  Brian peacock , Cricklewood Britain