The term gigolo usually implies a man who adopts a lifestyle consisting of a number of such relationships serially rather than having other means of support. The gigolo is expected to provide companionship, to serve as a consistent escort with good manners and social skills, and often to serve as a dancing partner as required by the woman in exchange for the support.
Many gifts, such as expensive clothing and an automobile to drive, may be lavished upon him. The relationship may include sexual services as well, and he also can be referred to as a "kept man.
The word gigolo may be traced to a first usage in English as a neologism during the s as a back-formation from gigolette , a French word for a woman hired as a dancing partner. Both gigolo and gigolette were first recorded in French in the middle part of the 19th century, referring to dance club denizens in Montmartre paid to dance with, and sometimes have sex with, unaccompanied male visitors.
In the latter part of the 19th century, particularly after the scandalous murder case known in Paris as the Pranzini Affair , the term gigolo took on connotations of the exotic, foreign male whose company and affections could be purchased by well-to-do French women.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Male escort or social companion. For other uses, see Gigolo disambiguation. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Human sexuality portal. Spiegel Online. Interpersonal relationships. Child abuse Dating violence Domestic violence Elder abuse.
