Green’s Dictionary of Slang

used in compounds, as a generic term for women, implying promiscuity or prostitution.

1595		Maroccus Extaticus C: She [a madam] that I talke of can entertaine you with a duzen tiffite taffetie girles in a morning.
1604		Middleton Father Hubburd’s Tales in Works VIII 78: [They] pander to such young gallants as our young gentlemen, either to acquaint them with harlots, or harlots with them; to bring them a whole dozen of taffeta punks at a supper.
1607		Dekker & Webster Northward Hoe I i: Is euery one that swims in a Taffatie gowne Lettis for your lippes?
c.1614		Beaumont & Fletcher Faithful Friends I ii: This tiffany tilting Trader, wants Customers.
1614		Jonson Bartholomew Fair IV v: Taking our trade from us, with your tuft-taffata hanches.
1627		T. Middleton Father Hubburds tales n.p.: [O]ne of those [...] that fed vppon yong Land-lords, ryotous sonnes and heires [...] either to acquaint them with Harlots, or Harlots with them, to bring them a whole dozen of Taffeta Punkes at a supper, and they should be none of these common Molls neither, but discontented and vnfortunate Gentlewoman.
1642		J. Taylor St Hillarie’s Teares 4: [T]he maintenance of Taffata, Sack, Wenches, and other the usuall prodigalities.
1642		Strange Newes out of Woodstreete A3: Pick-pockets with hanging lookes, Taffaty Whores falling to decay.
1659		Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony I ii: Your acrimonious spirit will discurtain our changeable taffeta ladies to a hair.
1678		Poor Robin almanack C2: [W]e shall now have everything fit [...] as fit as ten groats for the hand of an Atturney [sic], as your French Crown for your Taffety Punk.
1691		G. Langbaine The English dramatick poets 14: The Plot of Will Smallshank’s decoying the Widow Taffeta into Marriage, is borrow’d (as I suppose) from the same Author.
1740		Poor Robin Apr. n.p.: Some Gallants will this Month be so penurious that they will not part with a crack’d Groat to a poor Body, but on their Cockatrice Punquetto will bestow half a dozen Taffety Gowns, who in requital bestows on him the French Pox.