Elsewhere CW says, "Solicit is another word for our list of 'words that have dirty meanings sometimes' . . . I usually think of soliciting meaning to turn tricks."

Why is it called a 'trick'? Enquiring minds want to know.

Don't know, but then you could ask: "How did trick come to mean 'a tour of duty'?" And speaking of lawyers, a few entries down in Old Partridge's dictionary is trickum legis 'a quibble of law'. Quo quibble?

I don't know how one finds out those sorts of answers, Shu. "Trick" comes from the Latin word triccare, meaning to deceive. The use with prostitutes, the AHD says, is a slang use. Is there a etymologic dictionary of slang terms? I do think I've seen one at Borders. I did find a discussion of the etymology of sexual slang here, though "trick" isn't there. I also tried various online slang dictionaries, but I could find no etymology of "trick."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,

Online Etymology dictionary

Tinman