NationStates Jolt Archive

Not a very good word anymore, I think. People can't decide if it comes from fricken (old german, to strike) or if it's a... what are they called... Thing Where Letters Stand for Words. I'll call it a TWLSFW. Or if it's a TWLSFW for Fornication Under Charles the King.

I don't know. It's not really much of a word anymore, and we need a new one.

Acronym.


Yes, fuck has lost its power to shock most people.

Not a very good word anymore, I think. People can't decide if it comes from fricken (old german, to strike) or if it's a... what are they called... Thing Where Letters Stand for Words. I'll call it a TWLSFW. Or if it's a TWLSFW for Fornication Under Charles the King.

I don't know. It's not really much of a word anymore, and we need a new one.

Here was me thinking it was from Found Using Carnal Knowledge.

Not a very good word anymore, I think. People can't decide if it comes from fricken (old german, to strike) or if it's a... what are they called... Thing Where Letters Stand for Words. I'll call it a TWLSFW. Or if it's a TWLSFW for Fornication Under Charles the King.

I don't know. It's not really much of a word anymore, and we need a new one.

The word you are looking for is acronym. And to be honest I am uncertain of the "legality" of this thread.

Found Using Carnal Knowledge? That wouldn't even make any sense. Unless you were a Turkish cop...

Her virginity was fuck.

Not really. Doesn't work too well.

Acronym! I knew it started with A, but I kept thinking of Anagram, which obviously isn't it.

What do you mean, Legality? I'm not flaming anyone, we're just discussing a particular word.

Yeah. Used as a term, supposedly, for sailors found in the act of buggery on Navy ships. Again, not sure of the legitimacy of this, but it's a fun thing to discuss when following a group of parents and prospective students around on University open days.

Is fuck not like some of the other swears that come from Anglo-Saxon? For example, the (still taboo) c--t is Anglo-Saxon.

I thought it was For Unlawfull Carnal Knowledge, but fuck it. It's still a perfectly usefull word. Hell, it makes up half of the dialog in Deadwood, one of my favorite TV shows.

What do you mean, Legality? I'm not flaming anyone, we're just discussing a particular word.

It's not often you see a thread with an obsenity in the title. Just concerned that the mods may take it the wrong way. I know you aren't flaming. Here, have a cookie.

(Hands over Bolol Nuclear Cookie)

It's overused, if you ask me. I propose the UN come to a resolution to give the immediate death penalty to anyone who uses it.

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/fuck.htm

Right, two votes acronym, two for some Germanic verb...

On a different note, all my text suddenly went grey. Upon reloading, it was normal again. Also, I've just clipped the fingernails on my right hand, but not the left. Typing feels subtly different.

Three for acronym since I wrote that bit...

:rolleyes: Like so many acronym based folk etymoligies, the "fornication under consent of king" is complete bs.

etymonline's entry (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fuck) explains the difficulties in finding a definitive root for this word, and the various cognates in other Germanic languages.


And back onto the actual topic....
Of course fuck has lost it's edge. but as we live in a post-modern society, it now has a post-edge instead. Which means it is just as useful if you know how to use it. :p

This seems most likely:

[Fuck] is a very old word, recorded in English since the 15th century (few acronyms predate the 20th century), with cognates in other Germanic languages. The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang (Random House, 1994, ISBN 0-394-54427-7) cites Middle Dutch fokken = "to thrust, copulate with"; Norwegian dialect fukka = "to copulate"; and Swedish dialect focka = "to strike, push, copulate" and fock = "penis". Although German ficken may enter the picture somehow, it is problematic in having e-grade, or umlaut, where all the others have o-grade or zero-grade of the vowel.

It lost its edge all right. My music was saying the word "fuck" many times, and I didn't notice in the least untill visiting this thread.

MY teacher told me it was Fornication Under Carnal Knowledge.

Supposedly the name of a French town used as a curse by invaders. So my teacher told me in grade 10.

MY teacher told me it was Fornication Under Carnal Knowledge.
YOUR teacher was wrong. See the snopes link on the previous page.


As to whether fuck has lost it's edge, who the fuck cares? I fucking don't.

Supposedly the name of a French town used as a curse by invaders. So my teacher told me in grade 10.
There's an Austrian town called Fucking, but that's not the origin.

Not a very good word anymore, I think. People can't decide if it comes from fricken (old german, to strike) or if it's a... what are they called... Thing Where Letters Stand for Words. I'll call it a TWLSFW. Or if it's a TWLSFW for Fornication Under Charles the King.

I don't know. It's not really much of a word anymore, and we need a new one.

Actually I believe it is Fornicating Under Consent of the King!

:fluffle:

I think fuck has lost most of it's edge, as have most other swear words. Although, people still use them because of the little edge they have left.

That's really interesting, about the etemology. I always assumed it came from latin: faceo, facere - to make or to do. That's probably wrong, though.

Rastamania']Actually I believe it is Fornicating Under Consent of the King!

:fluffle:

It's not any of them. It's not an acronym at all.

Someone mentioned earlier that it was derrived from "Frichen", derrived from German, meaning 'To Strike"... First off, "Schlagen" is the German word for strike (Yes, I have seen that Monty Python sketch)... that being said, it actually does come from German; from the word "ficken", which means the same as the English word: To Fornicate (I'm not sure if it's the literal word for Fornicate, but that's what it means)

Also, I'd noticed that, somewhere in the last 10 years or so, "Fuck" lost it's title as the Prime swear word to "****"... Seriously, I could say "Dude, you're a ****", and get the response "You shithead, Don't use that fucking language around me. It offends me" ...Oh, how I wish I were exaggerating...

Let's clear this up once and for all...


it is not "Fornication Under Consent of King".
it is not "Fornication Under Charles the King".
it is not "Fornication Under Carnal Knowledge".
it is not "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge".
The word fuck does not stand for anything. It never has. It may be hard to believe for some of you, but it's true. Bizarrely, at no point has having unlicensed sex actually been outlawed in England.

Infact, there is no known case of an acronym leading to a new word before the 20th century ("OK" may be an isolated example, but even that was in the 19th century). All such examples, like Fuck, or the origin of the word "posh" are all completely false. No such origin exists. Fuck can't even be shown to be directly related to German "ficken" either, although their meanings and usage are almost identical.

What is usually believed by etymologists is that:

Fuck is from the Old English fuken, from a Proto-Germanic "*fuk-" with a similar meaning. Ultimately believed by some to possibly be derived from the Proto-Indo-European *pug-, which could be translated as meaning "to strike", and is more commonly known as the root of the words for "fist" in Greek and Latin.

Get it?

to recap:

IT. IS. NOT. AN. ACRONYM. :rolleyes:

Pity that it's lost its meaning. I want a really really virulent swear word up my sleeve.

I once sat on a bus next to an old lady, and there were some other kids with feet on the seats. She confided to me that it bothered her, but didn't want to say anything "in case they swore at her". To me, that idea is so alien, who cares if they swear, it's just words.

I find with the loss of words suck as "fuck", as offensive in their own right, you really need directed insults, which mean something. One of my favourites is p**isbreath. Mostly I like it, because it was used in the movie ET.
It's just so...evocative. Implying action as well as a state of being.

Interestingly enough, the "swear word" c*nt, was originally a "cute pet name" for the same body part. It comes from the old english word for rabbit, "coney", and is used to describe it as "a little rabbit hole". Cute, no?
Or at least that's what I heard, I could be wrong. Who really truly knows how language evolves.

As for myself, call me anything you like, except "normal" or "average".

Alright, you ordinary, run-of-the-mill conformist.

No, it hasn't.

FUCK THE PO-LEASE!

*gets shot*

Not a very good word anymore, I think. People can't decide if it comes from fricken (old german, to strike) or if it's a... what are they called... Thing Where Letters Stand for Words. I'll call it a TWLSFW. Or if it's a TWLSFW for Fornication Under Charles the King.


Acronym? No it isn't.

Already settled that, thanks anyway. Also, if you read my post carefully, I never actually said it was an acronym.

Yeah. Used as a term, supposedly, for sailors found in the act of buggery on Navy ships. Again, not sure of the legitimacy of this, but it's a fun thing to discuss when following a group of parents and prospective students around on University open days.


I love to hear the word "buggery" used.

'S'a great word, isn't it?

Already settled that, thanks anyway. Also, if you read my post carefully, I never actually said it was an acronym.

Well, technically, if it had had such an origin it would be an initialism, rather than an acronym, but that is by the by.

Alas some people I know use the word like punctuation. Overuse tends to reduce shock value.

Its lost its edge in most circles. With some people, its almost every other word out of their mouths. It isnt so special anymore.

No more "F-Bomb" to be dropped.

Douche-Bag can still shock 'em.

'S'a great word, isn't it?


I like it. It makes me chuckle for some reason. And I feel so worldly when I use it. My brother in law is from England-I like to drop it on him from time to time.

Well, technically, if it had had such an origin it would be an initialism, rather than an acronym, but that is by the by.

You know, I was actually thinking of that when I wrote up the first post, but decided against it since most people assimilate the definition of initialism into acronym. Oh well.

It depends on who you're talking to. Some old ladies would freak out if they heard someone say fuck, but you're right for the most part.

It depends on who you're talking to. Some old ladies would freak out if they heard someone say fuck, but you're right for the most part.

Next time I'm talking to an old lady, I want to use "bugger" instead of f**k.

No no no! Say Cuff! The phonetic reverse of fuck, yet no one seems to notice.

Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck) presents most of the theories presented here. Check it out. For those of you that don't know, Wikipedia is one of the most informative and realiable encyclopedias on the internet.

Next time I'm talking to an old lady, I want to use "bugger" instead of f**k.

Ask about her Quim.

Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck) presents most of the theories presented here. Check it out. For those of you that don't know, Wikipedia is one of the most informative and realiable encyclopedias on the internet.

It's true. Yet, at the same time, it is the single most misinformative and unreliable sorce of information in the world. And that's what I love about it.

I've always been partial to bollocks.

Har. Har.

I think any word like that tends to eventually get overused and lose it's edge. Maybe we need to go beyond fuck...to new and uncharted expletives...mybe invent one...who knows what the future holds for expletives?

Has it lost its edge? Yes, due to overuse.

I think it's lost it's edge as a "shocker" but I am not trying to shock people when I use it. I use it always in the sense of "Gee whiz."

I think it's lost it's edge as a "shocker" but I am not trying to shock people when I use it. I use it always in the sense of "Gee whiz."

Like, "Holy fuck, Celestial Paranoia posted!"

[QUOTE=Mythotic Kelkia]:rolleyes: Like so many acronym based folk etymoligies, the "fornication under consent of king" is complete bs.

:upyours:

maybe it is bs, but it is a funny story








"suckit"

[QUOTE=Mythotic Kelkia]:rolleyes: Like so many acronym based folk etymoligies, the "fornication under consent of king" is complete bs.

:upyours:

maybe it is bs, but it is a funny story








"suckit"

I don't like you.

Like, "Holy fuck, Celestial Paranoia posted!"

Exactly! Or "ouch" works too.

Yeah, it's been awhile. I figured I would poke my head in.

"bugger"
hee-hee

And another thing, does this icon :upyours: mean "Fuck off", or "Up yours"?

[QUOTE=Mythotic Kelkia]:rolleyes: Like so many acronym based folk etymoligies, the "fornication under consent of king" is complete bs.

:upyours:

maybe it is bs, but it is a funny story









"suckit"
A newbie, how precious.

Exactly! Or "ouch" works too.

Yeah, it's been awhile. I figured I would poke my head in.

"Ouch, Celestial Paranoia posted!"

I don't get it.

"Ouch, Celestial Paranoia posted!"

I don't get it.

Hearts break when I am near? Throw this chick a bone here man...

Hearts break when I am near? Throw this chick a bone here man...

Ah. That would be more of a *shatter* sound. Such as, "Celestial Paranoia is coming!" *shatter*

Found Using Carnal Knowledge? That wouldn't even make any sense. Unless you were a Turkish cop...

Her virginity was fuck.

Not really. Doesn't work too well.

Acronym! I knew it started with A, but I kept thinking of Anagram, which obviously isn't it.

Actually I believe the term "Found using carnal knowledge" is legalese for either rape or adultry, can't remember which for sure.

Let's say crush! I always liked the sound of crushing.

Let's say crush! I always liked the sound of crushing.

*heart crushes*

Dat's what I'm talking 'bout! :D

Dat's what I'm talking 'bout! :D

Haha. It's good to know my heartbreak amuses you. ;)

Haha. It's good to know my heartbreak amuses you. ;)

You mean heartcrush?

You mean heartcrush?

Yes, my mistake. My heartcrush amuses you. :)

Yes, my mistake. My heartcrush amuses you. :)

But of course.

Why? Is that wrong?

But of course.

Why? Is that wrong?

No, not at all. I just find it amusing that you derive joy from my torment.

No, not at all. I just find it amusing that you derive joy from my torment.

Old saying goes: One who finds joy in other's torment, is tormented themselves. :)

Old saying goes: One who finds joy in other's torment, is tormented themselves. :)

Oooh, that's deep.

Oooh, that's deep.

As deep as a puddle, that's me.

As deep as a puddle, that's me.

That's not very kind to yourself.

Fuck has lost its power to shock most people.
"Pissflaps" is the new "fuck." (At least at my house, it is.)

Found Using Carnal Knowledge? That wouldn't even make any sense. Unless you were a Turkish cop...

Her virginity was fuck.

Not really. Doesn't work too well.

Acronym! I knew it started with A, but I kept thinking of Anagram, which obviously isn't it.

I was told that it originated from the Puritans, who as you may know, were a tad..strict, in their religious beliefs. People found fornicating with others that they shouldn't, in "improper" ways, or at an "improper time", were placed in a stockade, where those letters were engraved above their heads to let everyone in the community know of their "crime". It evolved into a word that meant "to have premarital sex", and was considered "crude".

Actually I believe the term "Found using carnal knowledge" is legalese for either rape or adultry, can't remember which for sure."Found Using Carnal Knowledge" kinda gives me a Picture of a couple lying in bed and both are referencing the "Book of Sex" and the "Kama Sutra" for instructions.

bugger

*runs through the topic with a WTF flag*

That was a very interesting discussion. "Found Using Carnal Knowledge..." XD

The "F-word" doesn't really bother me.

I've got a question for you.....

Did it ever have an edge?

The "f-word" has been used for centuries, if not millenia, as has been referenced in a link earlier in this thread.

Unless, of course, you're speaking of the false "shock" which all proper ladies and gentlemen were to assume as if they had never heard the phrase before. As a euphemism, it only means what the person implying/interpreting it thinks it means, so if I said "Raspberry you!" and meant the same thing as the ever popular phrase, you could be offended. In my opinion, it's the choice to be offended that created it's "shock value."

I've got a question for you.....

Did it ever have an edge?

The "f-word" has been used for centuries, if not millenia, as has been referenced in a link earlier in this thread.

Unless, of course, you're speaking of the false "shock" which all proper ladies and gentlemen were to assume as if they had never heard the phrase before. As a euphemism, it only means what the person implying/interpreting it thinks it means, so if I said "Raspberry you!" and meant the same thing as the ever popular phrase, you could be offended. In my opinion, it's the choice to be offended that created it's "shock value."


You make a good point.

I had heard that it had started during a battle between the french and english. Someyhing to do with the English bowmen showing off their middle fingers and stating "pluck yew". Unfortuneately I cannot remember all the details.

When the english archers were caught, the french would cut there finger off, without it theey could not fire a bow so they were useless.
So the english would gesture there fingers to the french in the famouse manner.