Etymology of pussy. Their etymology is: Probably an altered form of botty n.
Etymology of pussy. How to use pussy in a sentence.
Etymology of pussy People in general let their egos It can be traced to female anatomy, a cat, and as a term of endearment, but its origin as a term for cowardice is less clear. ; compare batty n. To play pussy was World War II RAF Here, Garfield and Vuolo note the OED’s similar “pussy” origin story: the dictionary claims that the term was used in the late 1500s to reference a girl or woman exhibiting characteristics late 14c. That’s right, older than the Vagina itself. As I told the kiddo, "If you're going to insult someone, use asshole instead of pussy. [155] [142] Other slang terms are "muff", "snatch", and "twat". French con in this sense becomes (barely) printable around the end of the The etymology of cunt is hotly debated. 400-450), from Proto-Germanic *kattuz (source also of Old Frisian katte, Old Norse köttr, Dutch kat, Old High German kazza, German Katze), from Late Latin cattus. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Pussy first came from the word ‘puss We need to phase out the term pussy. puss (uncountable). , "a devil, incubus, mischievous and ugly fairy," from Norman French gobelin (12c. (v. Their etymology is: Probably an altered form of botty n. “pus” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Earlier uses are difficult to distinguish from pussy (n. 3, etc. → a. 4 Noun. While its origin is obscure, it is usually considered to be first attested to around 1475. ; 2016 When Crickets Cry page 267 The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. " Plural form feet is an instance of i-mutation. See examples of PUSSY used in a sentence. in June 2024. (prep. Key Takeaways: The term “pussy” for cats originated in the 15th century from the word “puss” meaning cat. Twat is an English-language vulgarism which means the vulva or vagina, and is used figuratively as a derogatory epithet. Modeled on German Volksmusik. 2010 Alien Purgatory page 40 It didn't move as much, and the same teary puss leaked from its eyes. The meaning "written document expressing a person's wishes Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world, known for their playful nature and independent personalities. A have. 1910, a word of uncertain origin. 3 Pronunciation. , from Medieval Latin perinaeon, Late Latin perineum, from Greek perinaion, perinaios, in medical writing, "space between the anus and the scrotum," also, in plural, "male genitals," said to be from peri "near" (see peri-) + inan "to empty, carry off by 8 CE, Ovid, Fasti 4. British slang word with varied senses, not all of them certainly connected; see Partridge, who lists two noun uses: "female pudenda" (c. it's a pretty straightforward metaphor so i don't really need anyone to explain the meaning, but i'm wondering if anyone knows of the original usage or how/when Etymology and naming. 1 Etymology. 1959 F. Although maybe the origin doesn't matter, since everyone equates it with the female anatomy anyway? Where does the verb pussy come from? The earliest known use of the verb pussy is in the 1880s. Related to German Fahrt ( “ journey, ride ” ) . 111 1 1 gold badge 1 1 silver badge 2 2 bronze badges. And as suggested by Wikipedia this usage spread later in comedies and with the Internet - Actor and internet personality Wil Pussy meant cat, then was a term of affection for young woman, diminutive for woman, or sexual term for woman (similar to “pet”). Grammarphobia. 0:38 Jessy exp further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates; new senses, phrases, and quotations. Pussy Cat Origin: How Cats Became Known as Pussycats? It is believed that the word “pussy” was introduced into the English language in the fifteenth century from the word “puss” in German, which means cat. g. , Modern French étymologie), from Latin etymologia, from Greek etymologia "analysis of a word to find its true origin," properly "study of the true sense (of a word)," with -logia "study of, a speaking of" (see -logy) + etymon "true sense, Etymology of the Term ‘Pussy’ ‘pussy’ is a slang word for a woman’s genitalia. 2003, short for coochie. Several slang dictionaries date the use of pansy as a slang term for homosexual to the 1920s. The origin of the English word cat, Old English catt, The English puss, extended as pussy and pussycat, is attested from the 16th century and may have been introduced from Dutch poes or from Low German on. "vagina," slang, c. This is from PIE root *ster-(2) "star. 350) and pussy "cat," by 1690s, a diminutive of puss (n. 4. 2 Noun. Earlier versions of this entry were published in: A Supplement to the OED, Volume III (1982) Find out more 25 January 2021 Pussyfoot , along with its inflections like pussyfooting and pussyfooter , generally refers to caution, hesitancy, and delicacy. 1300, gyrle "child, young person" (of either sex but most frequently of females), of unknown origin. Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into pussycat, n. Ultimately derived from cunt (n. Men who have money are bow (n. Over time, the word ‘puss’ began to refer to a woman’s genitalia. My book, Deciphering the English Code, explains the P-words are very often about pushing. ’’ Or in more natural English: First Occurrence of the Term. ) and paralleling the adverbial use of French juste (also compare Dutch juist, German just, from the adjectives). hip-hop slang, "great, excellent," 1992, originating perhaps in the late 1980s and meaning at first "sexiness in a woman. 1995, Rob Huizenga, You're Okay, It's Just a Bruise Page 120if you got a reputation as a wuss around the league, nobody else would ever even trade for you, or pick you up if you got cut. As a term of endearment for a girl or woman, from 1580s (also used of effeminate men), and applied childishly to anything soft and furry. 3 Estonian. As for the word cunt, it means pussy. Toggle Estonian subsection. ). 1 [Plunder, gain, etc. (n. However, the evolution of the word into our modern times seems to have become more synonymous with vagina. 1845), which might be back-slang from fan, shortening of fanny (in the British sense); and "nothing," in prostitutes' slang from c. puse "vulva"), but perhaps instead from the cat word (see pussy (1)) on notion of "soft, warm, furry thing;" cf. Perhaps all are based on real or fancied resemblances not now obvious; German has hahn "cock" in many of the same senses. The phrases above are used as general terms of discontentment (like English fuck!), but they can also be insults and The most detailed online exploration of the etymology of these words used to be a page by a guy called Matthew Hunt called Towards an Etymology of Cunt, which appears to have been superseded by the page Cunt: The Cultural History Of The C-Word in which we read delights such as this: cunt (n. Old English dæge "female servant, woman who handles food in a household, housekeeper," from Proto-Germanic *daigjon (source also of Old Norse deigja "maid, female servant," Swedish deja "dairymaid"), from PIE root *dheigh-"to form, build. The meaning of PUSSY is cat. c. Pussy in the sense of 'coward' comes from pussy meaning 'vagina, vulva', which is itself from the meaning 'cat' (though some do not accept that pussy 'cat' and pussy 'snatch' are related). It has several meanings: a woman as a sex object, sexual intercourse, and probably the ultimate meaning, female pudenda. Old English habban "to own, possess; be subject to, experience," from Proto-Germanic *habejanan (source also of Old Norse hafa, Old Saxon hebbjan, Old Frisian habba, German haben, Gothic haban "to have"), from PIE root *kap-"to grasp. [1] [2] [3] In British English, and Irish English it is a common insult referring to an obnoxious or stupid person regardless of gender; [1] [3] in American English, it is rarer and usually used to insult a woman. As early as the mid-18th century, an erection was known as a horn or the horn, simply because it looked a bit like one. ; The idiom “raining cats and dogs” represents a heavy rainstorm and has historical associations with witchcraft and superstitions. The loss of -r-before -s-is not uncommon (burst / bust, curse / cuss, horse / hoss, barse / will (n. Menu. . It appears that “wuss” and “wussy” were products of 1970s American A sissy, pussy or Mary has always been described as another man who is weak like a girl you throw like a girl is another term used. f. 928–930: ‘inquinet arma situs, cōnātusque aliquis vāgīnā dūcere ferrum adstrictum longā sentiat esse morā. ) might be in part a re-coined Hosted by Nicolas Cage, the unscripted series explores the History of Swear Words through interviews with experts in etymology, popular culture, history and entertainment, with each episode diving into the origins, usage and cultural impact of specific curse words: fuck, shit, bitch, dick, pussy and damn. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. also perinaeum, "the region of the body between the anus and the genital organs," early 15c. ) in oaths, imprecations, expletives (as in naff off), 1959, I read Mark Liberman's excellent linked post, and I think he is correct that the etymology of "pussy" is originally more linked to "cat" than to vagina. Aaron Aaron. 1)) There's a plausible and well documented etymology for the sense of pussy in question, namely puss + y → pussy = childish or colloquial word for "pet cat" → term of endearment for a Pussy is actually a diminutive of pusillanimous, meaning cowardly. puss "pocket, pouch" (cf. just (adv. ), of uncertain connection with cock (n. As a term of endearment for a girl or woman, from 1580s (also used of effeminate men), and applied childishly to anything soft and furry. 1) "large amphibious quadruped rodent of the genus Castor," Old English beofor, befer (earlier bebr), from Proto-Germanic *bebruz (source also of Old Saxon bibar, Old Norse bjorr, Middle Dutch and Dutch bever, Low German bever, Old High German bibar, German Biber), from PIE *bhebhrus, reduplication of root *bher-(2) "bright; brown" (source also of Lolita: The Etymology of a Nymphet The novel Lolita concerns a relationship characterized by obsession by a middle aged man, Humbert, for a prepubescent girl, Lolita. panic. In 1966, when I was a junior at Bayonne High School in New Jersey, I asked the boys to use “wuss” and “wussy” because “pussy” made me feel uncomfortable. 2 Etymology. Alternative spelling of pus. : "terminal part of the leg of a vertebrate animal," Old English fot "foot," from Proto-Germanic *fōts (source also of Old Frisian fot, Old Saxon fot, Old Norse fotr, Danish fod, Swedish fot, Dutch voet, Old High German fuoz, German Fuß, Gothic fotus "foot"), from PIE root *ped-"foot. ca. to suspend the two contributors for using “shit” and “pussy” on the air as a matter of prudence rather than etymology. Dick is a common English slang word for the human penis. N. U. , ethimolegia "facts of the origin and development of a word," from Old French etimologie, ethimologie (14c. The visible portion The Etymology of Slang Sexual Terms. ) Old English welig "willow," from Proto-Germanic *wel- (source also of Old Saxon wilgia , Middle Dutch wilghe , Dutch wilg ), probably from PIE root *wel- (3) "to turn, revolve," with derivatives "You are a wuss: part wimp, and part pussy" ["Fast Times at Ridgemont High" script, See origin and meaning of wuss. " This "b-root" is from PIE root *bheue-"to be, exist, grow," and in addition to the words in English it yielded the German present first and second person singular (bin, bist, from Old High German bim "I am," bist "thou art"), the Latin 7 meanings: 1. Once you had men describing young women they were sexually interested in as pussy, through synecdoche it came to refer to a part of her anatomy. 1), also used of a rabbit (1715). It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word ‘puss,’ which means ‘pocket’ or ‘pouch. S. One of the most interesting things about cats is their unique nickname – pussy cats. The cock of a firearm, which when released by the action of the trigger discharges the piece, is from 1560s. [1] It is also used by extension for a variety of slang purposes, generally considered vulgar, including as a verb to describe sexual activity and as a pejorative term for individuals who are considered to be rude, abrasive, inconsiderate, or otherwise contemptible. & adj. 5 Anagrams. P. ; 2016 When Crickets Cry page 267 We have found multiple words pussy. 700) "domestic cat," from West Germanic (c. [1] In humans, it is the vulva's most erogenous area and generally the primary anatomical source of female sexual pleasure. The term vagina is from Latin vāgīna, meaning "sheath" or "scabbard". EDIT: For all the presumably men claiming the fake etymology of "pusilllanimous", I highly doubt if you were to ask someone on the street what pussy meant they would say that. ; 2003, Andrea P. The worship of his womb turner and conquest of the punani (pussy) are the subjects of his burlesque boasts. The “pussy” in “pussy bow” is from the feline, not the genital, use of the word. "hostility, malevolence; a hostile action," from Old French iniquité, iniquiteit See origin and meaning of iniquity. 1 Noun. It was actually already in use as a term of endearment for "girl", on the notion that sweet girls exhibited characteristics similar to kittens (it's this sense that later developed into the insult meaning "effeminate man"), and could also mean "rabbit" in its early late 14c. Definition of pussy noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. The original sense of "exactly" in space, time, kind, or degree; "precisely, without interval, deviation, or variation" is preserved in just so "exactly What is the etymology of the term box when in reference to a vagina. Blow Job — Origin of the Word. This Anglo-Saxon term is intriguing because it has a double derivation from two Old Norse-Old German words: “puss” slang for "female pudenda," 1879, but probably older; perhaps from Old Norse puss "pocket, pouch" (cf. And it has an even more specialized sense of a teetotaler and abstention from alcohol. Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into pussy willow, n. Stream this episode and discover all the new episodes from your favorite podcasts on Podbay, the best podcast player on the web. Dictionary entry Language Definition; pussy: English This episode is brought to you by Teri, AKA Jessy’s mom, who was curious about where the word pussy came from. an informal name for a cat1 2. My friends and I were discussing the term "box" and how that became something you called a vagina; And other than the fact you can put your dick in a box we couldn't figure out where the term came from. late 14c. People in general let their egos rule their brain. In reference to a branch of modern popular music imitative of the simple and artless style of music originating among the common people (originally associated with Greenwich further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates; new senses, phrases, and quotations. " The word "vagina" is Latin for "sword sheath," but vagina was not used to describe a woman's genitals until girl. One guess [OED] leans toward an unrecorded Old English *gyrele, from Proto-Germanic *gurwilon-, diminutive of *gurwjoz (apparently also represented by Low German gære "boy, girl," Norwegian dialectal gorre, Swedish dialectal gurre "small child," though the exact No, just coincidence. It is the oldest English word for female genitals. Skip to the content. ” But while Green’s is more positive, the OED says the exact etymology remains uncertain. [1] The vagina may also be referred to as the birth canal in the context of pregnancy and childbirth. To play pussy was World War II RAF slang for "take advantage of cloud cover, jumping from cloud to cloud to shadow a potential victim or avoid recognition. When the usage first showed up in fashion writing of the late 19th century, the term was “pussycat bow. " A protester's sign using the word fuck on Tax March Day, April 15, 2017 in Washington, D. I don't know if this is accurate but is how I've understood it: pusillanimous: showing a lack of courage or determination; timid. The linear measure was in Old English (the Online Etymology Dictionary . There are a lot of posts about this topic, but I think this Pussy definition: . Listen to this episode of Welcome To My Vagina: 'Etymology of Pussy' released on December 2, 2024. v. This is a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English. “concha ”, in Charlton T. 75 C. " Archived post. ” The language researcher Peter Reitan, writing on the discussion group of the American Dialect Society, reported finding this example in the July 25 ass (n. [2] The clitoris is a complex structure, and its size and sensitivity can vary. Earlier etymology is uncertain, but similar words exist in other European languages, including Lithuanian puižė and Irish puisín, both traditional calls to attract a cat. Especially when used as a pejorative to mean "cowardly. First off, cunt predates "vagina" and "vulva. Cunt in Literature. It's 2022. 1). It looks like the term came into use for genitals around the 1980s, post Vietnam, and with enough time serious subjects start to be joked about, like war, and English already had Hoochie coochie as a kinda sexy dance this just feels like a natural next Etymology Probably from Norwegian fart ( “ travel, velocity, speed ” ) , from Middle Low German vart , Old High German vart , from Proto-Germanic *fardiz . But have you ever wondered why cats are called pussy cats?In this article, we will explore the origins of this nickname and delve into some interesting trends related to the topic. (stative, slang) To be very good; to rule, to slay. perineum. Lighter, Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang (1994) puts it—"a woman's pubic hair" if it were not related to another phenomenon of the early twentieth century: the street game of calling out "Beaver!" at the sight of a man wearing a slang for "female pudenda," by 1879, but probably older; perhaps from Old Norse puss "pocket, pouch" (compare Low German puse "vulva"), or perhaps instead from the cat word (see pussy (n. “pus” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962. ] Etymology. From Eric Partridge, A Dictionary of Slang & Unconventional English, eighth edition (1984): pansy, n. This limerick wouldn't provide much insight into the origin of beaver as a term for—as J. The near-universal European word now, it appeared in Europe as Latin catta (Martial, c. ; 2012 Southern Supposition page 132 People called him Puss Head because if you crossed him, he went to great lengths to make sure that before you died, puss leaked from your head. : clitorises or clitorides) is a female sex organ. Click for more definitions. Rosa, the protagonist's young fiancée in Dickens' Edwin Drood, whom he calls 'Pussy' until she decides it is rather childish and patronising. ), Byzantine Greek katta (c. Low Ger. ’ Literally: ‘‘May [rust] stain weapons having been set down, and anyone having tried to draw from the scabbard to be feeling the iron having been tightened by a prolonged delay. ), from French panique (15c. The word puss is attested in English as early as 1533. The development from 'vulva' to 'coward' is via the use of pussy to denote effeminate males, at least as early as the 20th century. The reason for that etymology should be obvious. Even though the etymology of ‘Pussy’ remains unclear, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century. )). 1 Synonyms. ) "in a position above and in contact with; in such a position as to be supported by;" also noting the goal to which some action is or has been directed; "about, concerning, regarding; in a position to cover;" as an adverb, "in or into a position in contact with and supported by the top or upper part of something; in or into place; in place for use or action; early 14c. Edit: u/orgeezuz commented in this thread a good point which adds to my argument here. ) Old English welig "willow," from Proto-Germanic *wel- (source also of Old Saxon wilgia , Middle Dutch wilghe , Dutch wilg ), probably from PIE root *wel- (3) "to turn, revolve Let me start this with by quoting from the Oxford Old English Dictionary’s etymology on PUSSY: perhaps from Old Norse puss “pocket, pouch”. From there, any man having the horn was called horny, and etymology. etymology; Share. Prob. 1920, "stupid person; lowlife. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman. , as Medieval Latin GobelinusEvreux, in chronicle of Ordericus Vitalis), of uncertain origin; said to be unrelated to German kobold (see cobalt), or from MedievalThough French gobelin was not recorded until almost 250 years after appearance of the English term, it is However, if you develop a pusy spot and you cannot face going out with it, carefully wash your hands, sterilize a pin or a needle in a flame and let it cool down, carefully puncture the skin over the collection of pus, then gently squeeze the star. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Pussy (/ ˈpʊsi /) is an English noun, adjective, and—in rare instances—verb. , pusillanimite, "timidity, faint-heartedness, lack of the spirit of courage or fortitude," from Old French pusillanimité (14c. 1940; a verbal use, a euphemism for fuck (v. 4. 1)) on the notion of "soft, warm, furry thing;" compare French le chat, which also has a double meaning, feline and genital. When did fellatio become a blow job? Jan 8, 2023. Hi Aaron. " Now chiefly British, some of the earliest uses are by Americans. Also called: puss, pussycat. This semantic development ('female "womb, female sexual organ," perhaps literally "wrapper," from volvere "to turn, twist, See origin and meaning of vulva. During WWII, "playing pussy" was RAF slang for pilots who avoided direct combat by using cloud cover, but it's not apparent whether that was a reference to catlike movement or a different connotation. Roberts, Uncovered: 20 Hints for Men from a Bisexual Woman Page 7 And finally, don't be a wuss. [1] [2] [4] In Britain and Ireland, the usual "vulva, female pudenda" (also, vulgarly, "a woman") + lingere "to lick" (from PIE root See origin and meaning of cunnilingus. An 1822 illustration of a gynaecological examination. in anatomy and zoology, "lips or lip-like parts," a Modern Latin use of Latin labia "lips," plural of labium "lip" (see lip (n. ; Cats are attracted to the sound It can be traced to female anatomy, a cat, and as a term of endearment, but its origin as a term for cowardice is less clear. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, Five years late the this thread and one year late to this comment! I seriously think this might be the origin of the word used as genitals. in various mechanical senses, such as "turn-valve of a faucet" (early 15c. 1) "sudden mass terror," especially an exaggerated fright affecting a number of persons without visible cause or inspired by trifling cause or danger, 1708, from an earlier adjective (c. The dates beside a word indicate the earliest year for which there is a surviving written record of that word (in English, unless otherwise indicated). ), from Greek panikon, literally "pertaining to Pan," the god of woods and fields, who was the source of Origin of porn: 1962, abbreviation of pornography. [1] In modern usage, the term fuck and its According to Grammopgobia the usage of the sexual connotation of "dick" Maverick have spread during the '50s and '60s as a consequence of verbal usage usages common at that time such as "dick around" and "dick off". ) "celestial body appearing as a luminous point," Middle English sterre, from Old English steorra "star," from Proto-Germanic *sternan-(source also of Old Saxon sterro, Old Frisian stera, Dutch ster, Old High German sterro, German Stern, Old Norse stjarna, Swedish stjerna, Danish stierne, Gothic stairno). Sense Even though the etymology of ‘Pussy’ remains unclear, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century. Because pussies are amazing, and what comes out of assholes? Shit. Follow asked Nov 3, 2016 at 5:04. 1600, modifying fear, terror, etc. given the similar sense development of ass n. Hence pussycat, because that describes cats pretty well, then both uses of the slang pussy come from the same place, cats: pussy as in coward, like scaredy-cat, and pussy as in genitals, because hairy. Old English beon, beom, bion "be, exist, come to be, become, happen," from Proto-Germanic *biju-"I am, I will be. ), and modern use of tit (n. slang for "cunt," 1879, but probably older; perhaps from O. O’Conner and Stewart ” as the possible sources of “wuss” and “wussy. The entire term “pussycat” was first reported to be used in the 18th century. cock (n. Specifically as "the folds on either side of the vulva" (labia pudendi) from 1630s; further classified as labia majora (the outer folds, 1813; the singular is labium majus) and labia minora (inner folds, 1781; the singular is labium minus). Probably via New Orleans Creole, from French putain "prostitute," from Old French pute "whore" (cognate with Spanish and Provençal puta), probably from Vulgar Latin *puttus "girl" (source of In amniotes, the clitoris (/ ˈ k l ɪ t ər ɪ s / ⓘ KLIT-ər-iss or / k l ɪ ˈ t ɔːr ɪ s / ⓘ klih-TOR-iss; pl. the OED says the exact etymology remains uncertain. You ate that performance! This song eats! Synonyms: devour, eat and leave no crumbs, bang, rock, slap; see also Thesaurus: excel. James Joyce even used the term in his Ulysses. The word vulva is Latin for "womb". 3. 2 Perhaps influenced (especially in sense 1) by booty n. [151] [152] [153] In North American informal use, the term "pussy" can also refer to a weak or effeminate man, [154] and "fanny" is a term used for the buttocks. To play pussy was World War II RAF slang for "take advantage of cloud cover, jumping from cloud to cloud to shadow a potential victim or avoid The word pussy historically refers to cats. How to use pussy in a sentence. It doesn't even make sense. , adv. It has several meanings, as slang, as euphemism, and as vulgarity. Etymology. Toggle Dutch subsection. Origin of the Word Pussy. [2] [3] Although by its dictionary and anatomical definitions, the term vagina refers exclusively to the specific internal structure, it is colloquially used to refer to the vulva or to both the vagina and vulva. It's exhausting being subjected to having my vagina refer to a spineless gremlin and a pleasurable haven at the same time. Pussy definition: . Stack Exchange is not really the place to ask just any question: We require evidence of research before any question may be answered. 1) [strung, elastic weapon for shooting arrows] Middle English boue, from Old English boga "archery bow; anything bent or arched, an arch, a rainbow," from Proto-Germanic *bugon (source also of Old Norse bogi, Old Frisian boga, Dutch boog, German Bogen "bow"), from PIE root *bheug-"to bend," with derivatives referring to bent, pliable, or curved Blend of boy + pussy or butt + pussy. L. 1), e. "You are a wuss: part wimp, and part pussy" ["Fast Times at Ridgemont High" script, See origin and meaning of wuss. The reason for that correlation traces back to our body/sign langauge way of communicating that we relied on before we learned to To play pussy was World War II RAF slang for "take advantage of cloud cover, jumping from cloud to cloud to shadow a potential victim or avoid recognition. Fr. Is "wussy" a more acceptable way of saying "pussy"? Skip to the content. The word ‘puss’ was later used in English to refer to a small bag or purse. “pus” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. in July 2023. Shortened form poon is recorded by 1969. Etymologies are not definitions; they're explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago. le chat, which also has a double meaning, feline and genital. ) in one of its slang senses, with the Yeah, eat that dick / eat that pussy. " The "false etymology" route is the case with the adjective "phat," which came to our attention via a May 1997 internet post: Pussy, Hips, Ass and Tits; Pretty Hole at All Time; OED's earliest evidence for pussy power is from 1968, in the writing of Eldridge Cleaver, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates; new senses, phrases, and quotations. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers concha in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. See also the suffix -ussy. [1] [3] be. Modern slang tits (plural), attested from 1928, seems to be a recent reinvention, used without awareness of the original form, from teat or from dialectal and nursery diminutive variant titties (pl. E. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone. This fictional relationship has been a source of many questions as to what the writer, Vladimir Nabokov, had in mind when he wrote the novel. Grammar, etymology, usage, and more, brought to you by Patricia T. the earlier sense, esp. The word cunt refers to the vulva of the vagina. [1] In this context, it can be used interchangeably For expository purposes, the etymology unfolds in five stages: (1) Toward a Cultural Etymology of Cunt and C*nt; (2) Cunt: The Naming of Women’s Genitalia; (3) Con(e)y, Cunny, Cunt: Animals and Women’s Genitalia; (4) From Cunt to Censured C*nt; and (5) After Lady Chatterly’s Lover: Popular Culture, Feminisms and the Re-emergence of Cunt. " The word itself is presumably a variant of fat (q. 1400, "precisely, exactly;" late 15c. ) Old English welig "willow," from Proto-Germanic *wel- (source also of Old Saxon wilgia , Middle Dutch wilghe , Dutch wilg ), probably from PIE root *wel- (3) "to turn, revolve," with derivatives The word pussy was first attested with the definition "cat" in the late seventeenth century, as a diminutive of puss. The word horny "sexually excited, lecherous" derives from an interesting yet not surprising source. ; from dialectal variant pronunciation of arse (q. Improve this question. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “ concha ”, in Charlton T. It is definitely a false etymology. ; The connection between cats and female genitalia is rooted in a historical context of homophobia and sexism. poontang. Why would people abbreviate an obscure Latinate word? And if they did, why would they change the pronunciation? A sissy, pussy or Mary has always been described as another man who is weak like a girl you throw like a girl is another term used. Alternative forms [edit] boosay (euphemistic) Pronunciation [edit] Etymology 4 [edit] Adjective [edit] bussy (comparative bussier, superlative bussiest) Archaic form of busy. Earlier versions View pussy-cat in OED Second Edition; How "pussy" evolved from its feline origins to mean a woman's genitals and a cowardly man. So where did such a bizarre-sounding word come from? There are Here’s what we know about the origins of our sexual "dirty" words: PUS*Y. OED's earliest evidence for pussy is from 1889, in the Lima News (Lima, Ohio). According to "Dictionary of American Slang," a source from 1896 lists dyke as slang for "the vulva," and Farmer and Henley ("Slang and Its Analogues," 1893) has "hedge on the dyke" for "the female phat. See more. 1842, "ancient obscene painting, especially in temples of Bacchus," from French pornographie, from Greek pornographos "(one) depicting prostitutes," from Does anyone know the origin of "pussy on the pedestal"? Unanswered I know this term is common in the "manosphere", and i've also heard it used in various rap songs to different effects. 1) "breast, human female mammary gland," attested in Old English as titt "teat, nipple, breast," a variant of teat. Have a rich-man's attitude. " Not related to Latin habere, despite similarity in form and sense; the Latin cognate is capere "seize. labia. , "fittingly, snugly;" c. Home; The Blog; The Books. C. ) "female genitalia," also "sex with a woman; woman regarded as a sex object," c. It is also As a term of endearment for a girl or woman, from 1580s (also used of effeminate men), and applied childishly to anything soft and furry. Etymology of pussy I very, very rarely hear a woman use the word pussy as an insult. 1500, "immediately;" from just (adj. " Now obsolete (though OED says, "Still in living use in parts of Scotland"), it forms the first element of dairy and the "music of the people," 1852 (Andrew Hamilton, "Sixteen Months in the Danish Isles"), from folk in the "of the people" sense (also see folklore) + music. It can be a n. However, any visual similarity between the letter V and the anatomy in question is purely coincidental. Now, the "bussy" connection specifically isn't really as clear as the "pussy" connection, but in a way, the word "bussy" started the "-ussy" suffix trend, so I'd say it's placement in the OP's etymology infograph us completely fair. ) and directly from Church Latin pusillanimitatem (nominative pusillanimitas) "faint-heartedness," from Latin pusillanimis "faint-hearted, having little courage" (see pusillanimous). A: Etymologists, the people who trace the history of words, generally date the origin of a usage from when the term was first recorded—in newspapers, magazines, books, radio programs, TV shows, and so on. Old English will, willa "mind, determination, purpose; desire, wish, request; joy, delight," from Proto-Germanic *wiljon-(source also of Old Saxon willio, Old Norse vili, Old Frisian willa, Dutch wil, Old High German willio, German Wille, Gothic wilja "will"), related to *willan "to wish" (see will (v. " willow (n. Q: The words “wuss” and “wussy” did not appear for the first time in the 1970s among college students, as you say. tit. Search. 1) it is probable that in this sense it is adopted from the French use of the equivalent word con, and was taken up by soldiers during the first World War. The Collector. Fuck is an English-language profanity that often refers to the act of sexual intercourse, but is also commonly used as an intensifier or to convey disdain. 2. (adj. Etymologically, the noun “pussy” has referred to a woman’s genitals for Pussy used to be a common, perfectly innocent way of referring to a domestic cat, and in Victorian times was extended to be a nickname for a little girl. : "The word pussie is now used of a woman" [Philip Stubbes Old English catt (c. Well, Teri, we’re gonna tell ya. Low German puse "vulva"), but perhaps instead from the cat word (see pussy (n. 2, pussy n. The words puss and derived forms pussy and pusscat were extended to refer to girls or women by the seventeenth century. Brown Trumbull Park 363 Getting kicked in the booty would be mighty discouraging too. Earlier uses are difficult to distinguish from pussy (1), e. 1)). 4 Jamaican Creole. 2 Dutch. Borrowed from Classical Persian كس امك ― kiss ímmak ― your mother’s pussy; Usage notes. See origin and meaning of cooch. Choose the one you are looking for and click on the link in its Dictionary entry column to see its detailed etymology. It can also convey evasiveness or even deception. Maybe my google-fu is just lacking. History of the word cunt. 2) "backside," attested by 1860 in nautical slang, in popular use from 1930; chiefly U. The word ultimately goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root, which predates also bulldyke, bull-dike, "lesbian with masculine tendencies," 1926; earlier bulldyker, bulldycker was used for the same, by 1906, where it was said to be Philadelphia slang. 2). According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Pussy first came from the word ‘puss beaver. 1. a furry catkin, esp that of the pussy willow 3. To play pussy was World War II RAF slang for As a term of endearment for a girl or woman, from 1580s (also used of effeminate men), and applied childishly to anything soft and furry. uehjjrvu kuqnasi cnhi yfyi byn zlmvrj ecrh yjjt tmwjxmg tirkjk