rough trade

[ruhf treyd]

noun

Slang.

1. gay male prostitution, especially involving brutality or sadism.

2. a gay male prostitute who engages in brutality or sadism, or such gay men collectively.

3. violent, often brutal sex acts.

4. a lower-class man who is found sexually attractive by a gay man from a higher social class.

rough trade

noun

1. slang,  (in homosexual use) a tough or violent sexual partner, esp a lorry driver, construction worker, or docker, casually picked up

Word History and Origins

Origin of rough trade¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Cobain went looking for their records at Rough Trade — the band’s original label — in London, and one of the staff working there explained that the records were out of print, but that Ana da Silva worked at an antique store not far away and that she might have a copy to give him.

From Salon

Catch Ken Womack in conversation with author Stephen T. Lewis at Rough Trade in NYC on Monday, June 23rd at 6:30 p.m.

From Salon

A clerk at Rough Trade Gear in Silver Lake claimed the store had never sold alkyl nitrites, despite highlights promoting poppers on its Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

While SOPHIE's was named Rough Trade's album of the year, some critics considered it too "safe" for such a pioneering and experimental talent.

From BBC

Belgium was asked by the EU to draft a proposal and it hopes to retain Antwerp as the main hub for rough trade.

From Reuters