Where did swear words come from?
- Thread starter Andrew
- Start date
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
seagull273
New member
- Dec 2, 2008
- 10
f*** knows?
Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
f*** was something to do with Fornication Under C? ? King or something like that, abbreviation.
Frank Gallagher
Banned
- Oct 17, 2011
- 114
the 2 fingers is a battle sign, we catch your archers, we will cut those fingers off.
Superphil
Dismember
f*** is "probably cognate" with a number of native Germanic words with meanings involving striking, rubbing, and having sex
Cheeky Monkey
Well-known member
- Jul 17, 2003
- 23,152
Well there's no need for that! He only asked a question.
Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
Fornication Under the Consent of the King I think... it is right I swear, I saw it on Sexcetera!
Clive Walker
Stand Or Fall
This is correct
Tricky Dicky
New member
There are several acronyms for these things (E.g For Uncommon Carnal Knowledge, or Store High In Transit), all of which as far as I know are rubbish. I would have thought abbreviations, mnemonics, acronyms are a relatively new concept and all these words go back a long way.
Superphil
Dismember
Henry V included a reference to the French cutting off longbowmen's fingers in a pre-battle speech, the story was around at the time of Agincourt, although it does not necessarily mean that the French practised it, just that Henry found it useful for propaganda, and it does not show that the two-fingered salute is derived from the hypothetical behaviour of English archers at that battle.
tottenhamseagull
New member
- Jul 7, 2008
- 1,300
Fornication Under the Consent of the King knows
Superphil
Dismember
There are several urban-legend false etymologies postulating an acronymic origin for the word. None of these acronyms was ever recorded before the 1960s, according to the authoritative lexicographical work The F-Word, and thus are backronyms.
Phat Baz 68
Get a ****ing life mate !
- Apr 16, 2011
- 5,023
**** is from the Grope **** Lane in London where the ladies of the night used to hang out in the olden days !! APPARENTLY !!
The Large One
Who's Next?
It's a lovely acronym - but total bollocks as far as etymological roots are concerned.
Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
Eh?
Superphil
Dismember
During the Black Death in the Middle Ages, towns were trying to control populations and their interactions. Since uncontaminated resources were scarce, many towns required permission to have children. Hence, the legend goes, that couples that were having children were required to first obtain royal permission (usually from a local magistrate or lord) and then place a sign somewhere visible from the road in their home that said "Fornicating Under Consent of King", which was later shortened to "f***". This story is hard to document, but has persisted in oral and literary traditions for many years; however, it has been demonstrated to be an urban legend.
The Large One
Who's Next?
I'm pretty certain it's the other way round.
Superphil
Dismember
The Fornicating under consent of the king thing is bollocks
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,249
More importantly, what's your FAVOURITE swear word?
Don't like the C word myself, but then a lot of women don't.
Don't like the C word myself, but then a lot of women don't.