bona roba

English

Etymology

From Italian, literally, “good stuff”.

Noun

bona roba (plural bona robas)

1. (obsolete) An attractive woman, especially one who is sexually available; a prostitute or courtesan.
   • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     And is Jane Nightwork alive? […] By the mass, I could anger her to th' heart. She was then a bona-roba. Doth she hold her own well?

   • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter DXIII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC:

     A fine strapping bona roba, in the Chartres taste, but well-limbed, clear-complexioned, and Turkish-eyed; thou the first man with her, or made to believe so, which is the same thing […] .

   • 1871, R. D. Blackmore, Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor, London: Sampson Low, page 317:

     For he assured me that now he possessed very large experience, for so small a matter; being thoroughly acquainted with women of every class, from ladies of the highest blood, to Bona-robas, and peasants’ wives: and that they all might be divided into three heads and no more; that is to say as follows.