The notion that our offensive pejorative has its etymological origin in the phrase "For unlawful carnal knowledge" is fictitious! I didn't know that when I went to start this thread. Apparently, that phrase has its roots in the context of age discrepancy in a criminal capacity such that the participants regardless of consent were of an inappropriate distinction identified by law as unacceptable. Statutory rape is a type of rape that pertains to an adult who has intercourse with a person under the age of 18. When the age difference is not significant it can be reduced from a felony by a 'Harvey Waiver', but can still result in registry as a sex offender. And so it ends... The reality of the etymology has its roots in other cognate words from language predating this notion, but from what I looked at there isn't really conclusive discussion about it.
Personally, I find it both amusing and arbitrary that we've taken certain series' of sounds and labeled them offensive. So I can exclaim, "oh fudge!" in public, and society is fine with this. Change the end to a hard "k" sound, and suddenly--magically almost--it's offensive. Same meaning, same emotion behind it, but fudge, darn, shoot, and heck are fine, but making the small tweeks to change them into fuck, damn, shit, and hell, is not fine. It's considered rude. We've just changed a few letters. The message is the same. The intent is the same. The emotion and exclamation--all the same. It's just the sound of the word that's changed. That's so strange to me.
he word fuck has a complex and debated etymology. It is widely recognized as one of the most versatile and taboo words in the English language, but its precise origins are somewhat unclear. Here's a breakdown of what is known: 1. Possible Origins: Germanic Roots: The word likely originates from the Germanic languages. It may be related to words like: Old High German ficken, meaning "to rub, itch, or scratch." Dutch fokken, meaning "to breed" or "to thrust." Swedish dialectal focka, meaning "to copulate." Latin Influence: Some linguists suggest a link to the Latin word pugna (meaning "fight" or "combat"), though this connection is less direct. 2. Early Usage: The earliest written evidence of fuck dates back to the 15th century. One of the first recorded uses is in a cryptic Latin-English poem from around 1475, which contains the phrase "non sunt in coeli, quia fvccant vvivys of heli," roughly meaning "they are not in heaven because they fuck the wives of Ely." By the 16th century, fuck appears in English legal documents and literature, often euphemized or disguised due to its vulgarity. 3. Evolution of Meaning: Originally, the word was likely a straightforward term for sexual intercourse. Over time, it evolved to take on various uses, including as a verb, noun, interjection, adjective, and intensifier (e.g., "fuck this," "what the fuck," "fucking amazing"). 4. Taboo and Acceptance: The word became taboo during the rise of Victorian morality in the 19th century and was omitted from dictionaries and public discourse. In the 20th and 21st centuries, fuck has become more widely used in popular culture, losing some of its taboo but still remaining controversial in certain contexts. 5. Cultural Significance: Fuck is now recognized for its linguistic versatility, serving as a marker of emotion, emphasis, and rebellion, as well as a source of humor and creative expression. In summary, fuck has deep roots in Germanic languages, with early associations related to rubbing or thrusting. Its journey from a straightforward term to a powerful taboo word highlights the dynamic nature of language and societal norms.
Let's substitute the word 'Fuck' for the word 'Kill' in all those entertainment shows we watch ... "Hey Sheriff, we're gonna Fuck now. But we're gonna fuck you REAL slow...." "Fuck the Ump! Fuck the Ump! Fuck the Ump!" -- George Carlin. (The 7 words you can't say on Television.) [Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cu*t, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits]
I argue it's not the same meaning. If you say "heck" or "darn" you're not talking about things that stir you emotionally all that much. And unless you're some weird prude you're not going to be using those words if you hit your thumb with a hammer for instance. Your choice of words would be specific.
THat's right ... Tits is such a Friendly sounding word .. it's kind of like a nickname ... "Hey Tits, meet Toots, Toots, Tits, Tits, Toots..." or maybe a snack ... I know it is, but I'm not talking about your SEXIST Snacks ... I'm talking about New Nabisco Tits! You've got Cheese Tits, Corn Tits, Tater Tits ... Pizza Tits ... Betcha can't eat just one!
The first time the word fuck really entered my conciousness was at the tender age of fifteen when I saw Country Joe and the Fish. That was in my home town here in the UK. God, I loved that band. Give me an F. Give me a U. Give me a C. Give me a K. What's that spell? Man, I thought when our generation was in charge the world would be a much better place. Where did it all go wrong? Tomorrow, the billionaires take over. Fuck em!
This probably isn't something I should admit to, but I think it affects me more when I hear the word fuck out of woman's mouth. In my teens, I knew a couple of girls who had a long running joke with fuck in it. They would never have used the word in normal conversation. It was insulated and made safe by being wrapped up in the joke. It always jarred with me when heard Dory Previn sing that one of her two lovers would make love and the other would fuck. It shocked me because she was a middle aged woman of my mother's age with a crystal clear voice. In my first relationship, I was like Dory's first lover. My girlfriend never used the word fuck. I feel there was a degree of squeamishness in our relationship and we were never truly open with each other. My second partner was much more earthy, but still never swore while we were getting to know each other. Yet as our relationship progressed and after we'd been intimate, she started using the words fuck and fucking quite freely when appropriate. That felt good to me, like she was being more open. It signalled a greater intimacy just like when she stopped feeling shy about me seeing her naked. I remember once I inadvertently said the word fucking when talking to a woman who I didn't know well. It was a slightly awkward moment like when you accidently see down a woman's top. A couple of minutes later she dropped the same word back into the conversation. She was doing the usual thing of establishing a rapport by reflecting back at me. Telling me that she was no prude. Also, possibly sending me the message that she could stand up for herself. There was a woman who I used to see often and got on well with. We were regularly thrown together by circumstances and had the opportunity to chat for half an hour or so. One time she told me a moving and funny anecdote that centred around the use of the word fucking. I could see she had to steel herself to say the word out loud and flushed slightly afterwards while checking my reaction. Like with my second partner she was opening up to me a little more. Later, I discovered that her husband was jealous of me. At the time that puzzled me. I guess I can be a bit dim at times. The first time I can remember hearing my wife use the F word was on our wedding day. When she got exasperated with someone interfering with our plans, she said "whose fucking wedding is it anyway." Whenever she urgently needed gratification, she'd demand " are you going to fuck me or what? " My daughter who is grown up now swears a lot. One time she said the word fucking in front of her grandmother. I could see the old lady cringing. She was clearly shocked. After a few seconds, she relaxed and shrugged as if thinking "Ah well, that's just the way young people are these days."
Fuck is a good, strong, and versatile expletive. It can be used to express anger, shock, confusion, passion, fear and excitement. Let loose the foul!
I love the word fuck. It can be used in so many ways to express oneself. Even when with the same exact words surrounding it it can have different meanings. For example: "What the fuck?" vs "What the fuck!". Put a rise in tone when saying the first expression shows a curious response or surprise to something. Put a lower tone to the phrase with a shortening of the word at the end you have an expression of disgust. Yep, I just love the word FUCK! (BTW, the poll doesn't have enough fucking selections)
