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Archaic Swear Words
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Rantallion:
A Victorian word denoting a man whose scrotum is longer than his penis.
What a delightful word eh?
Anyway, can you dig up and share any other similarly awesome insults/swear words from history?
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"The obvious is cunt. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that this is the oldest swear word in the English language "
Yes indeed and there is it seems, still much debate amongst scholars of etymology from whence it exactly originates.
I’ve read at least three different theories(!)
Mind you, whatever it’s origins, what a wonderfully coarse term it is  |
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"The obvious is cunt. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that this is the oldest swear word in the English language
Yes indeed and there is it seems, still much debate amongst scholars of etymology from whence it exactly originates.
I’ve read at least three different theories(!)
Mind you, whatever it’s origins, what a wonderfully coarse term it is "
In parts of Yorkshire at least, cunt is also an archaic term for a scabbard or sheath, or a leather pocket of some kind for safely storing a knife, chisel or other sharp edged implement. |
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"The obvious is cunt. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that this is the oldest swear word in the English language
Yes indeed and there is it seems, still much debate amongst scholars of etymology from whence it exactly originates.
I’ve read at least three different theories(!)
Mind you, whatever it’s origins, what a wonderfully coarse term it is
In parts of Yorkshire at least, cunt is also an archaic term for a scabbard or sheath, or a leather pocket of some kind for safely storing a knife, chisel or other sharp edged implement. "
Really? That is an awesome factoid! I shall be making usage of this one from now on   |
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"Not a swear word as such but Shakespeare’s line in insults really needs to make a comeback:
‘Thou lump of foul deformity’
Courtesy of Richard III which is absolutely full of burns from the Bard. "
The great Bard was a truly a master of witty put downs and insults
Oscar Wilde was another - a master of insulting, often in such a way that the insultee (a new word perhaps?) was unaware that they were in fact on the receiving end of his razor sharp wit and intellectual panache |
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Anchovy: Whilst still the subject of much heated debate as regards whether they should ever feature atop a pizza (Great Scott NOOOOO!!!) this was also an 18th century slang term to denote a lady’s vagina.
How vulgar! |
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"Quime not sure it’s spelt right but very Victorian "
A great word and indeed, very popular in the Georgian and Victorian eras
The word itself can apparently be traced back even further still to the early 1600’s although its exact etymological origins remain somewhat unclear and are still the subject of conjecture |
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"Does calling someone a Heathen, Cur or a Rapscallion count as Archaic?  "
Yes indeed; They’re all words which have declined in usage sadly.
Heathen is a particular cracker as is, Heretic.
In fact, I must confess to holding a particular fondness for ‘Godless’ and/or Biblical themed insults |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Pillock is 16th Century.
Chaucer used 'milksop' for an 'unmanly man'.
I also like 'hobbledehoy' for an awkward young man.
And I enjoy 'Thou cream faced loon' from the Scottish play. |
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"Yes indeed; They’re all words which have declined in usage sadly.
Heathen is a particular cracker as is, Heretic.
In fact, I must confess to holding a particular fondness for ‘Godless’ and/or Biblical themed insults "
interesting....I see so if say one referred to another as a Cretin/ Urchin or Peasant would also be considered as an Archaic insult yes? Or even Uncouth  |
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"Pillock is 16th Century.
Chaucer used 'milksop' for an 'unmanly man'.
I also like 'hobbledehoy' for an awkward young man.
And I enjoy 'Thou cream faced loon' from the Scottish play."
Hobbledehoy - I especially love that one |
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"Yes indeed; They’re all words which have declined in usage sadly.
Heathen is a particular cracker as is, Heretic.
In fact, I must confess to holding a particular fondness for ‘Godless’ and/or Biblical themed insults interesting....I see so if say one referred to another as a Cretin/ Urchin or Peasant would also be considered as an Archaic insult yes? Or even Uncouth "
Yes indeed
Urchin and peasant originated as class system based terms/insults and whilst both have admittedly lessened in power (and indeed usage) somewhat over time, they can still be utilised to gain an immediate upper hand over an unwary opponent 
The term Cretin however has probably fallen out of fashion due to it’s politically incorrect origins (it is an abbreviation of the congenital Thyroid condition of Cretinism - a term itself which is somewhat unfavourable in the medical field).
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"
Yes indeed
Urchin and peasant originated as class system based terms/insults and whilst both have admittedly lessened in power (and indeed usage) somewhat over time, they can still be utilised to gain an immediate upper hand over an unwary opponent
The term Cretin however has probably fallen out of fashion due to it’s politically incorrect origins (it is an abbreviation of the congenital Thyroid condition of Cretinism - a term itself which is somewhat unfavourable in the medical field).
"
hmmm you learn something new every day I guess one day it everyday life stuff the next day it’s a history lesson on archaic swear words , I wonder if wench/sodomites/degenerate or buffoon fall under archaic too?  |
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"
Yes indeed
Urchin and peasant originated as class system based terms/insults and whilst both have admittedly lessened in power (and indeed usage) somewhat over time, they can still be utilised to gain an immediate upper hand over an unwary opponent
The term Cretin however has probably fallen out of fashion due to it’s politically incorrect origins (it is an abbreviation of the congenital Thyroid condition of Cretinism - a term itself which is somewhat unfavourable in the medical field).
hmmm you learn something new every day I guess one day it everyday life stuff the next day it’s a history lesson on archaic swear words , I wonder if wench/sodomites/degenerate or buffoon fall under archaic too? "
Certainly, as they are all terms predating the 18th century and as each are declining in popular usage, they could indeed fall under the category.
Wench - one of my personal favourites by the way
An interesting fact attached to the term to: Although we historically all associate it with ‘ladies of ill repute’ shall we say, it also traditionally denoted any man who had sexual relations with such women.
In fact ‘Wenching’ apparently was a term at one point to describe the act of visiting prostitutes.
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"Not a swear word - but I like the word plebeian - meaning peasant.
As a term for a woman I love Strumpet - rolls off the tongue beautifully. "
Yes indeed; plebeian originates from ancient Rome to denote a member of the lower classes. Often abbreviated today as, ‘Pleb’. (And a fine insult!)
Strumpet is a cracker! Jezebel, harlot, hussie - not used nearly enough today |
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"Not so much a swear word, but nobody says 'goolies' any more "
I remember that one well 
Incidentally, there was a horror series called Ghoulies which featured one of the titular creatures biting off a man’s tackle as he sat on the loo in the first entry in the series.
The slogan for the first film was: ‘They’ll get you in the end.’
The advertising slogan on the second movie was a play on this and depicted one of the monsters emerging from a loo with the new slogan of: ‘They’ll get YOURS in the end.’
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"The obvious is cunt. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that this is the oldest swear word in the English language
Yes indeed and there is it seems, still much debate amongst scholars of etymology from whence it exactly originates.
I’ve read at least three different theories(!)
Mind you, whatever it’s origins, what a wonderfully coarse term it is
In parts of Yorkshire at least, cunt is also an archaic term for a scabbard or sheath, or a leather pocket of some kind for safely storing a knife, chisel or other sharp edged implement. "
Makes sense. A vagina is the Latin term for a sheath and cunt is old English for vagina. |
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Here’s an interesting one; although not a swear word as such but rather an old term for a sexual act:
Gamahuche:
A Victorian word for oral sex.
‘Edna my dear, I very much fancy some gamahuche tonight. Wot wot.’ |
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"I remember people being called a "Joey " at school after a disabled boy on tv Joey Deacon - So not right & proof of how cruel bullying can be."
I remember him; he was featured on Blue Peter as I recall.
I also sadly remember the same cruel and derogatory term being thrown around at my school as well.
I’d like to think that now, with most schools being inclusive, that sort of deplorable prejudice will be much abated with the children today understanding differences much better.
Or at least I hope |
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