1686–7. Aubrey, Gentilisme (1881), p. 163. The towne is full of wanton wenches, and … (they say) scarce three honest women in the Town.
1693. Congreve, Old Bachelor, iii., 10. Silvia. I’m not such a fool neither, but I can keep myself honest.
1695. Congreve, Love for Love, iii., 14. Mrs. Fore. Do you think any woman honest? Scan. Yes, several very honest; they’ll cheat a little at cards sometimes; but that’s nothing. Mrs. Fore. Pshaw! but virtuous, I mean.
2. (common).—Not positively illegal: as honest penny or shilling = money earned by means immoral (as by prostitution) but within the law. Also, To turn an honest penny = to make a profitable deal.
1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, iii., 1. You must call usury and extortion God’s blessing, or the honest turning of the penny.
1886. J. S. Winter, Army Society, ch. xxi. There was a chance of turning an honest penny in hiring them out for the donkey-race.
To make an honest woman, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To marry a mistress.
1629. Earle, Microcosmographie (5th ed.). ‘A Serving Man.’ The best work he does is his marrying, for he makes an honest woman, and if he follows in it his master’s direction, it is commonly the best service he does him.
1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, v., 6. Dap. Why she was my wench. Gripe. I’ll make her honest then. [[338]]
1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XV., ch. viii. Mr. Nightingale, and his love, stepped into a hackney-coach, which conveyed him to Doctors’ Commons, where Miss Nancy was, in vulgar language, soon made an honest woman.