Language as used to define and redefine activities and stratify people beyond the edges of "accepted" society is rich with meaning - and examples. Riots, rioters, etc. became code in the 1830s to infer urban disorder. At the same time, the word "disorderly" became a go-to synonym for prostitution as "disorderly women" and "disorderly houses" appeared in standard usage. Did that somehow make prostitution less of a crime than riots?