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History of Swearing
swearing
17
English
12th Grade
08/11/2013

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Cards

Term
Fuck
Definition
The origin of the word is obscure. It is usually considered to be first attested to around 1475.The usually accepted first known occurrence is in code in a poem in a mixture of Latin and English.Non sunt in coeli, quia gxddbov xxkxzt pg ifmk.
Term
Shit
Definition
The word is likely derived from Old English, having the nouns scite,schītte,schyt,skit-.
Term
Ass
Definition
Derives from the Germanic root *arsaz, which originated from the Proto-Indo-European root *ors.
Term
Damn
Definition
The word enters Middle English usage from Old French in the early 14th century. The secular meaning survives in English "to condemn"
Term
Piss
Definition
From Old French pissier "urinate" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *pissiare
Term
Cunt
Definition
The earliest citation of this usage in the 1972 Oxford English Dictionary, refers to the London street known as Gropecunt Lane. Scholar Germaine Greer has said that "it is one of the few remaining words in the English language with a genuine power to shock."
Term
Bitch
Definition
Comes from the 1150 word bicche, which was developed from the Old English word bicce. It also may have been derived from the Old Norse word bikkja
Term
Name one culture that doesn't have native swear words.
Definition
Japanese, Malayans, most Polynesians and most American Indians
Term
How many seriously objectionable words will earn a motion picture a R rating?
Definition
17
Term
Name one of the two modern English swear words that an Anglo-Saxon peasant from the 10th century would understand.
Definition
Tits, fart
Term
How old is the term pussy?
Definition
1600's
Term
What is the most versatile swear word?
Definition
Fuck, In modern usage, fuck and its derivatives (such as fucker and fucking) can be used in the position of a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb.
Term
When did the usage of Fuck reach it's peak?
Definition
World War 2, snafu: "situation normal-all fucked up"
Term
What is the oldest curse word?
Definition
Shit, 5th-7th centuries AD
Term
What is the term bollix derived from?
Definition
It is a direct adaptation of bollocks, meaning "testicles."
Term
What is the term poppycock derived from?
Definition
An adaptation of a Dutch word meaning "soft dung."
Term
Bugger, an innocent word in America is not at all welcome in Britain because it means what?
Definition
A Bugger in Britain is a sodomite.
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