When Frank Sinatra was in his "hay day" he referred to women as "broads". What is the meaning of the word and

Question

where did the word originate from?

Answer 1

He used the slang term to represent a woman. As for the origin, "broad" was an 18th century term for a playing card. The way woman are connected to the tickets seems to originate in 1914 (see sources):

"Noun, Current amongst genteel grafters chiefly. A female confederate; a female companion, a woman of loose morals. Broad is derived from the far-fetched metaphor of 'meal ticket,' signifying a female provider for a pimp, from the fanciful correspondence of a meal ticket to a railroad or other ticket."

Answer 2

A complete explanation is given at this site:
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000612

This word is no longer much in use. Its tone implies contempt for a woman.

Answer 3

I remember hearing some reference to the breadth of their hips.