How old is the F-word

very old.

Read an article in yahoo news that the first instance of the F-word being used goes back to medievel times. Gee...I wonder who invented it. Probably starkers, he goes back at least that far.  :grin:

 

EDIT: I was mistaken about the origin. Sorry

5,200 views 12 replies
Reply #1 Top


How old is the F-word
End of quote

How the fech would I know? :D

As Old as the world's oldest profession, perhaps?

Or even older... like when Eve took that apple, and a voice from above thundered:  "Fech me, that's gone and torn it for everyone!"

It could even be as old as Doc, though that's debatable.... being he used a pterodactyl egg to help create his first antibiotics and other medicinal compounds.


Gee...I wonder who invented it. Probably starkers, he goes back at least that far.
End of quote

Uh, yeah, I did use the f-word at an early age [around 11 or 12][Hey get off my case. kids as young as 5 or 6 are using it these days] but Doc would know more about its origins than I... being he was likely around when it was invented.

  :grin: :grin:

Reply #2 Top

Lets ask him. Hey Doc...you know who invented the f-word?

Reply #3 Top

The "F Word" is an extremely obscene word in the English languageIts origin is obscure but is usually considered to be first attested to around the year 1475, although it may be considerably older.

 

I wouldn't use it even if someone paid me to do so.   :S

Reply #4 Top

Quoting LightStar, reply 3

The "F Word" is an extremely obscene word in the English language.
End of LightStar's quote

I don't know that it's any more obscene than others.  For mine, there are worse words, yet one could use them in front of a police officer and not be arrested.  I suppose it depends on one's personal perspective, though.  For many, the f-word is just a part of every day language to help describe various situations, while others see it as a sexual term and therefore vulgar.

Quoting LightStar, reply 3

I wouldn't use it even if someone paid me to do so
End of LightStar's quote

Hehe, I would!  And the more they paid me the more I'd use it.  I so enjoy parting fools from their money. :grin:

For me, though, it's a matter of context.  For example, when used in the sexual way, I think it is cheap, nasty and demeaning.  If it's used as an exclamation of pain when one hits their thumb with a hammer, or to express shock or surprise, then it isn't sexual and thus 'more' acceptable.  Having said that, I don't like it when used repeatedly during conversations or just for the sake of it.  To me, when someone cannot express themselves without using the F-bomb every second or third word, then that is ignorance.

Reply #5 Top

Oh, and while I'm unsure as to the age of the word, I once read somewhere that it is a contraction of a legal term used back in the day when intercourse was quite illegal in a number of situations... out of wedlock and such. 

The legal term For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was contracted to presumably save time and having to say the whole thing in courts.  Whether this is true or not I don't know, but the 1st letter of each word is awfully convenient, isn't it.

Hehe, I can just see it now: "And what is the accused charged with?"

"The defendant has been charged with F.U.C.K., your Honour."

Then the defendant chimes in: Oh dear! Well you might as well say I'm F**ked, then."  :grin:

Reply #6 Top

Aussies have a new F-word, it's called the F***in'Abbott...

 

 

**this was a statement of fact and not related to any persons (political or otherwise) living and/or presumed dead...

Reply #7 Top

I heard he got kicked and another dude was put in his place.

Reply #8 Top

As George Carlin once said...

Suppose we substitute the word F***, for the word KILL in all those old movie cliches.

 

"Alright Sheriff!

We're gonna F*** ya now...... but we're gonna F*** ya slow...."

 

 

Reply #9 Top

starkers is older than speech. He's older than human, monkey and ape predecessors. he's older than everything but G*d.

starkers is (therefore) older than ****.

 

Reply #10 Top

Quoting Fuzzy, reply 6

Aussies have a new F-word, it's called the F***in'Abbott...
End of Fuzzy's quote

Wasn't there an Ian Dury song with that title? :grin:

Actually, the song was/is called 'F**kin Ada' from the 'New Boots And Panties' album... but methinks Abbott is the perfect replacement..

And yes, Ross, he got the proverbial knife in the back from one of his own party.... supposedly a good mate.  Not that anyone 'll shed a tear.

 

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 9

starkers is older than speech. He's older than human, monkey and ape predecessors. he's older than everything but G*d.

starkers is (therefore) older than ****.

 
End of DrJBHL's quote

And you're older than me. ;P

In fact, you were the person God asked if he should rest on the seventh day.

You said yes because watching all that creation just plum tuckered you out. :grin:

Reply #11 Top

just saw an article that recently found the first documented instance of the word was in some court records that dated back to 1310.

Reply #12 Top

Quoting gmc2, reply 11

just saw an article that recently found the first documented instance of the word was in some court records that dated back to 1310.
End of gmc2's quote

Court records, eh?  From 1310!  May well support the 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' contraction article I once read some years ago.

I also read a list that gave the f-word a whole new context in a variety of situations... to describe shock; anger; pleasure, etc.  Like I said, it doesn't have to have a sexual connotation these days, though some people tend to over-use it for various reasons.

I know somebody who will use it several times in the one sentence.... meaning that during a conversation you could hear it 30 - 40 times... even more.  He has been kicked off buses and trains: out of shopping centres and pubs, etc... even doctors surgeries, yet he still doesn't learn.  Put it this way, you'd only take him somewhere ONCE.... and next time you'd go in disguise/incognito.

O:)