SEX TRAFFICKING: Glossary

The following list of key sex trafficking terms is published in Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children, by Linda Smith.

Automatic: a victim’s “automatic” routine when her pimp is out of town, in jail, or otherwise not in direct contact with those he is prostituting; all money generated on “automatic” is turned over to the pimp

Bottom: a female appointed by the trafficker/pimp to supervise the others and report rule violations; may help instruct victims, collect money, book hotel rooms, post ads, or inflict punishments on other girls

Branding: a tattoo or carving on a victim that indicates ownership by a trafficker/pimp/gang

Brothel (aka Cathouse or Whorehouse): may be apartments, houses, trailers, or any facility where sex is sold on the premises; could be in a rural area or nice neighborhood; most have security measures to prevent attacks by other criminals or provide a warning if law enforcement are nearby

Caught A Case: when a pimp or victim has been arrested and charged with a crime

Choosing Up: the process by which a different pimp takes “ownership” of a victim

Daddy: the term a pimp will often require his victim to call him

Date: the exchange when prostitution takes place, or the activity of prostitution

Escort Service: an organization, operating chiefly via cell phone and the internet, which sends a victim to a buyer’s location (an “outcall”) or arranges for the buyer to come to a house or apartment (an “in-call”)

Exit Fee: the money a pimp will demand from a victim who is thinking about trying to leave; will be an exorbitant sum to discourage her from leaving

Romeo Pimping: a situation in which a man tricks a victim into believing they are in a relationship or in love, only to enslave them; may be used to traffic women and children for sexual exploitation

Gorilla (or Guerilla) Pimp: a pimp who controls his victims almost entirely through physical violence and force

“John” (aka Buyer or Trick): an individual who pays for or trades something of value for sexual acts

Lot Lizard: derogatory term for a person who is being prostituted at truck stops

Madam: an older woman who manages a brothel, escort service, or other prostitution establishment; may work alone or in collaboration with other traffickers

Pimp Circle: when several pimps encircle a victim to intimidate through verbal and physical threats to discipline the victim or force her to choose up

Seasoning: a combination of psychological manipulation, intimidation, gang rape, sodomy, beatings, deprivation of food or sleep, isolation from friends or family and other sources of support, and threatening or holding hostage of a victim’s children

Squaring Up: attempting to escape or exit prostitution

Stable: a group of victims who are under the control of a single pimp

Track (aka Stroll or Blade): an area of town known for prostitution activity

Trade Up/Trade Down: to move a victim like merchandise between pimps

Trick: committing an act of prostitution (verb), or the person buying it (noun)

Turn Out: to be forced into prostitution (verb) or a person newly involved in prostitution (noun)

Wifeys/Wife-in-Law/Sister Wife: what women and girls under the control of the same pimp call each other

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If you need help, or you think someone may be a victim of human trafficking, please call Orange County Safe Homes’ Confidential 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 845-562-5340 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

You can also submit a tip online through the anonymous online reporting form via humantraffickinghotline.org/.