A lounge lizard is a man who frequents social establishments with the intention of seducing a woman with his flattery and deceptive charm. The term is reported to have arisen around 1915 in New York. A 1931 book described them as men "
nthe habit of lounging in different dance resorts from tea time on, on a chance of picking up a few dollars; or they might be habitués of the place or of an outer room, described as a 'lounge', for the purpose of picking up girls and women. In Europe, he subsequently evolved into what is now known as the
gigolo
A gigolo () is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a person in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call.
The term ''gigolo'' usually implies a man who adopts a lifes ...
."
In the 1919
Charlie Chaplin film
''Sunnyside'' the term appears as a
title card
In films, an intertitle, also known as a title card, is a piece of filmed, printed text edited into the midst of (i.e., ''inter-'') the photographed action at various points. Intertitles used to convey character dialogue are referred to as "dial ...
, describing a group of men reading newspapers in a hotel lobby. In
Buster Keaton's 1924 film ''
Sherlock Jr.'', Keaton plays a projectionist at a movie theater where the movie showing is ''Hearts & Pearls or The Lounge Lizard's Lost Love''. The
movie within a movie has a character who is good looking and well dressed who is romantically involved with a wealthy young woman.
See also
* ''
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards''
References
{{reflist
Pejorative terms for men