procuress

From Old French procureresse (compare French procureuse), corresponding to procure +‎ -ess.

IPA^(key): /pɹəˈkjʊəɹɪs/

procuress (plural procuresses)

1. A middlewoman: a woman who performs as a go-between, an intermediary.
2. A female procurer.
   • 1905, W. Somerset Maugham, “Puerta del Puente”, in The Land of The Blessed Virgin: Sketches and Impressions in Andalusia:

     The Spaniard, who will seduce any girl he can, is pitiless under like circumstances to his own womenkind; so there is much weeping, the girl is turned out of doors and falls readily into the hands of the procuress. In the brothels of Seville or of Madrid she finds at least a roof and bread to eat.

   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 65:

     Old witches in the cities and country-side throve upon the sale of death spells and love philtres. They also made a trade of abortificants, and frequently practised the whiles of the procuress.

• percussor