The C Word

[Lucian]

Which word was Chaucer punning? Quaint sounds unlikely.

Oh, it's a pun of the c-word, but he is not actually using the c-word.

 

[Information Analyst]

it's not considered more unpleasant everywhere. In england it's about on a level with the f word. In Scotland it's about on a level with "good morning".

Plus, it's not necessarily pejorative in certain contexts. "He's a clever c---" and "he's a funny c---" can be admiring/positive (cf. any film with Danny Dyer in it).

Your misogyny argument doesn't hold up because there are other words for the female anatomy that are milder swears (pussy, fanny, twat) that aren't as serious.

I've always liked the Q-word, because it evokes a nice warm fuzziness.

 

[dafydd]

Oh, it's a pun of the c-word, but he is not actually using the c-word.

The C-word isn't attested in Old English and Chaucer didn't use it. Here is a discussion of the history of Carlin's 7 dirty words. NSFW language, obviously. Discussion of the c-word begins at around the 14 minute mark.

Now I'm puzzled, but it is after midnight here and I have a stinking cold in the head.

 

[dafydd]

Kont is an old Flemish word for backside. I wonder how and why it got transferred from the back to the front in English.

 

[Information Analyst]

Have you seen Bottom live?

Wow, that's a blast from the past....

 

[Information Analyst]

Perhaps we were slightly at cross purposes there. I was meaning it has no negative connotations when used as a word for a cigarette. And it is commonly used in that context.

That doesn't mean some cretins haven't picked up on the Amercian usage and copied that.

It seems to be alive and well in the UK gay community, although I suspect that's not what you meant.

 

[Information Analyst]

I saw those in tesco yesterday. The best thing about them was that the brand name was "Mr Brains"

A couple of years ago curiosity got the better of me, and I tried said brand. One of those done things you can't undo, no matter how much you want to....

 

[Lucian]

Now I'm puzzled, but it is after midnight here and I have a stinking cold in the head.

I don't know, perhaps we're talking at cross purposes. My point is that, while Chaucer used a word that suggested the c-word, he didn't actually use the word itself. "Queynte," which is related to modern "quaint," is not etymologically related to the c-word. In one manuscript of the Wife of Bath's Prologue, the c-word does appear in one instance, but that MS is not one of the ones closest to Chaucer's hand.

The Middle English Dictionary's entry for queint(e

The MED's entry for the other word.

ETA Hope your cold gets better.

 

[joesixpack]

The C-word isn't attested in Old English and Chaucer didn't use it.

Wait, I thought Chaucer wrote in middle English?

 

[Polaris]

Wow, that's a blast from the past....

Regarding the thread title, a local DJ says of the word in question, "don't be one, don't get called one." I think that's fair.

 

[Lucian]

Wait, I thought Chaucer wrote in middle English?

Oh, sorry if that was confusing--I got interrupted while making that post, and lost my train of thought a bit. I was responding to two different statements, that the c-word went back to Old English and that Chaucer had used it. It's possible that it existed in Old English, but no examples survive. On a separate note, Chaucer did indeed write in Middle English, but he did not use the c-word (though he got close to it).

 

[Sunstealer]

Just found this post.

In Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK there is a short alley called Red Hat Lane.

For a long time I've wondered if it is connected with the well known phrase: "Red hat, no drawers."? With all the obvious implications.

Any comments anyone?

In Oxford there used to be a C***grope Lane.

Edited by jhunter1163: 

Edited for public forum.

 

[joesixpack]

Oh, sorry if that was confusing--I got interrupted while making that post, and lost my train of thought a bit. I was responding to two different statements, that the c-word went back to Old English and that Chaucer had used it. It's possible that it existed in Old English, but no examples survive. On a separate note, Chaucer did indeed write in Middle English, but he did not use the c-word (though he got close to it).

That's OK, I often drink Olde English while reading Chaucer.

 

[gumboot]

Yeah, I learned that "snog" was the equivalent of coitus (to use a Sheldonism).

Some of those have been deliberately changed through a process of censorship.

French Kiss is a good example.

'French Kiss" used to mean a blowjob (which, if you actually think about it, makes far more sense). The sanitisation into "kissing with the tongue" appears to have originated with the US media. A good example is the stage production/film "Grease". The original musical play would never be appropriate for a school production.

(That's a lie, actually, my high school did the original version)

 

[gumboot]

Kont is an old Flemish word for backside. I wonder how and why it got transferred from the back to the front in English.

No evidence that's the etymology for the English word.

 

[gumboot]

Just found this post.

In Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK there is a short alley called Red Hat Lane.

For a long time I've wondered if it is connected with the well known phrase: "Red hat, no drawers."? With all the obvious implications.

Any comments anyone?

In English medieval towns, streets were named after the produce that was available for purchase on the street. Hence things like "Bread Street" and "Fish Street". Given it seems unlikely there would be a big enough market for red hats to justify an entire street dedicated to them, it seems likely this was some sort of prostitution street. It may have had its name changed later - as others have pointed out the standard name for a red light district in Medieval England was Grope****. When they word started to become inappropriate for public discourse from about the 15th/16th Century these roads were renamed. Many were given misleading names like "Grape Lane" but some were no doubt renamed with a new phrase designating them as a place to cop a feel with a friendly lady.

 

[dafydd]

No evidence that's the etymology for the English word.

No evidence that it isn't.

 

[arthwollipot]

One of the euphemisms here in Flanders is mouse. And 'kont' here means buttocks. Dikke kont=ample behind.

Kont is an old Flemish word for backside. I wonder how and why it got transferred from the back to the front in English.

Reminds me of "fanny". In the US, it's the bum. Around here it's the... uh... front bum. What the US calls a "fanny pack" is here called a "bum bag". Yes, in polite company.

(That's a lie, actually, my high school did the original version)

I was the Teen Angel in my school's production. I was the only one who could hit the high notes.

 

[sadhatter]

Oh, it's a pun of the c-word, but he is not actually using the c-word.

Much like the phrase Bozac, in relation to testicles.

Used because it sounds like Ballsack, but isn't. Essentially you are saying it, but in a slightly wittier fashion. And in this particular case, royalties should be given directly to the Beastie Boys.

 

[sadhatter]

Wow, that's a blast from the past....

The show yes, but the live show, that was going till what, 2005, 2006? ( don't have the movies next to me ATM.) Heck i am 27 and that doesn't seem that far back for me.