pelican, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pelican n.

(US und.) an ageing prostitute .

1856		Life in Boston & N.Y. (Boston, MA) 23 Aug. n.p.: Who is that fancy dressed pellican [sic] [...] that pretends to be a married woman.
1863		Criminal Life (NY) 19 Dec. n.p.: Marm Bemis keeps a crib in Hawkins street, and her array of pelicans is awful to look upon.

In phrases

where the pelican builds her nest (n.)

(Aus.) used generically for a mythical, far-distant place; lit. use, the outback [‘The unexplored parts of Australia are sometimes spoken of by the bushmen of Western Queensland as the home of the pelican, a bird whose nesting-place, so far as the writer knows, is seldom, if ever, found’ Australasian (Melbourne) 5/3/1881].

1881		Australasian (Melbourne) 5 Mar. 7/4: ‘We are going,’ they said, as they rode away— / ‘Where the pelican builds her nest!’ / They had told us of pastures wide and green, / To be sought past the sunset’s glow.
1893		Sth Bourke & Mornington Jrnl (Richmond, Vic.) 30 Aug. 2/6: The conscientious councillor seems to be regarded by people generally as a ‘rara avis in terris,’ who resides ‘where the pelican builds her nest,’ or some equally retired situation.
1945		Baker Aus. Lang. 89: Out where the bull feeds or where the pelican builds her nest, in the out-back.