Drie oude raadsels. De inhoud, het gebruik en de herkomst van het begrip musico

Samenvatting

Using some texts that have not been consulted until now, this article sheds new light on the international eightteenth century term musico, the word adopted for licensed brothels in Amsterdam. The author tries to answer the questions why even decent women could enter a musico without becoming the talk of the town, why the word musico mainly appears in French texts and if its use has been strictly limited to the eightteenth century. Besides, attention will be paid to the question if there has been a uniform set-up as well as a clear development of the musicos. Furthermore, a new and more plausible etymology of the term musico will be offered, not derived from Italian musico but from French musicaux.