pander, n.

Etymology: < the name of Pandarus (classical Latin Pandarus , ancient Greek Πάνδαρος , Italian Pandaro ), a Trojan archer who is said to have procured for Troilus the love and good graces of Chryseis (or Cressida).

1.

a. A go-between in clandestine love affairs; a person who provides another with the means of sexual gratification; a pimp, a procurer, esp. a male one.

c1450 in Englische Studien (1925) 59 9 (MED), Ther is no beter pandare, as I trowe, ffor al this londe through out suche be ye knowe.

1579 T. NORTH tr. Plutarch Liues 100 He that was the Pandor to procure her.

1585 R. GREENE Planetomachia I. sig. E, Pasylla smiling at the diligent hast of the old Pandar [sc. Clarista], commaunded she should be brought in.

1609 SHAKESPEARE Troilus & Cressida III. ii. 198 Pand. If euer you proue false one, to another since I haue taken such paine to bring you together let all pittifull goers betweene be cald to the worlds end after my name, call them all Panders.

a1616 SHAKESPEARE Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) V. v. 165 One M Broome,..to whom you should haue bin a Pander.

b. A person who assists the immoral urges or evil designs of others. Also in weakened use: a person who indulges the tastes, whims, or weaknesses of another.

1603 R. KNOLLES Gen. Hist. Turkes 7 One of her Eunuches, whom she purposed to vse as her pander for the circumuenting of the Patriarch.

1644 W. PRYNNE & C. WALKER True Relation Prosecution N. Fiennes 2 They had not employed such a man as would palliardise Lies, and become a pander unto Falshood.

1682 DRYDEN Medall 16 The Pander of the Peoples hearts.

1752 JOHNSON Rambler No. 195. ⁋12 In a place where there are no pandars to folly and extravagance.

From the OED