Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

WantToBeACyborg t1_j6ilrnw wrote

Reply to comment by EchoVast in TIL that the first use of the phrase "son-of-a-bitch" in American literature was in the 1823 book "Seventy-Six" by John Neal about the American Revolutionary War. Seventy-Six was criticized at the time for its use of profanity and was noted for its use of colloquialisms. by vrphotosguy55

Plus, there were words and phrases they used that were considered course but lost their original meaning/punch over time.

60

basaltgranite t1_j6initm wrote

It's an ongoing process. For example, "fuck" once had an impact. Now it's a routine vocabulary word. It happens the other way around too. "Piss" was once the normal word for urination. When "piss" became crude, it was euphemized to "pee."

Edit: Another example: In medieval England, "cunt" was tame enough to officially name a street where prostitutes plied their trade "gropecunt lane." Most (not all) of them have been renamed.

63

AnalogNightsFM t1_j6j10x4 wrote

First known reference in English apparently is in a compound, Oxford street name Gropecuntlane cited from c. 1230 (and attested through late 14c.) in "Place-Names of Oxfordshire" (Gelling & Stenton, 1953), presumably a haunt of prostitutes. Used in medical writing c. 1400, but avoided in public speech since 15c.; considered obscene since 17c.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/cunt

18

PragmaticIdealism t1_j6kxsk0 wrote

I was of the understanding fuck was quite common in medieval England and became more of a swear over time? Something about birds being called windfuckers?

2

Lotharofthepotatoppl t1_j6l8lms wrote

IIRC there was a fight on the floor of congress (used to be very common) that started when one guy called the other a rascal. Naughty, rascal, etc used to be fighting words but now they’re completely inoffensive lol

2