The meaning of this expression has changed significantly over time. In the Middle Ages, the French expression "être sur le trottouer" (literally, "to be on the sidewalk") meant "to be seen, to be in the foreground." In his Essays, Montaigne used "se jeter sur le trottoir" in the sense of accentuating or underscoring something.

By the late 17^th century, a girl who was "sur le trottoir" was ready to marry, free of any other connotations. It was only in the 19^th century, when sidewalks were actually paved, that the two initial meanings were combined to refer to prostitution.