Prostitution is referred to as the oldest profession, but the modern Russian word for a prostitute, "проститутка," is a relatively new borrowing, which started being used in the Russian language just a couple of centuries ago. I am curious what the prostitutes were called in Russia before.
My question is this: What are the original Russian words or short expressions for women who regularly engage in sexual activity for payment to make a living?
Please kindly note that my question is not about women who have many casual sexual encounters or relationships just for fun. My question is about making a living in this way.
Please also kindly note that my question is not about being financially supported or provided for by a lover. My question is about selling sex to different customers and taking money for individual sex sessions.
Also, my question is not about old words that recently acquired an additional meaning as a slang word for a prostitute, like "фея." I am looking for words that were used as standard words for a prostitute before the word "проститутка" came into existence in the Russian language.
My question is not strictly limited to words of Slavic origin, although my primary interest is about them. At any rate, only those borrowed words qualify that were borrowed well before the word "проститутка" was.
I know the Б word, but my impression is that it is very derogatory, so I especially want to learn nice Russian words, similar to 遊女 (woman of pleasure), which pay more respect to the oldest profession.