tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post1310355445624675258..comments2024-03-29T06:29:02.182-04:00Comments on You Don't Say: BFDJohn McIntyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03559687583130468871noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-12113865168904323692009-08-28T09:56:09.595-04:002009-08-28T09:56:09.595-04:00I don't get it.
Not one mention of the Baltim...I don't get it.<br /><br />Not one mention of the Baltimore Fire Department.<br /><br />What's up with that?Bruce L. Robinsonhttp://www.brucesbasementbooks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-28530066592001908522009-08-26T01:02:31.862-04:002009-08-26T01:02:31.862-04:00I doubt he consulted Sources from the Welsh. No on...I doubt he consulted Sources from the Welsh. No one, but no one, reads Welsh save the Welsh. And who in the name of sanity would want to? Talk about your arcane languages.......Patricia the Tersenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-61615180886462534112009-08-23T20:23:02.988-04:002009-08-23T20:23:02.988-04:00Perhaps George Carlin says it best.
http://youtube...Perhaps George Carlin says it best.<br />http://youtube.com/watch?v=fFmRypAz_ERustynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-69107469874409438202009-08-22T16:56:08.930-04:002009-08-22T16:56:08.930-04:00To be fair, the sort of material that survives fro...To be fair, the sort of material that survives from OE and ME days wouldn't be likely to include such a low-class word.<br /><br />The (female) c-word is also not Old English, and may be from Latin ultimately, filtered through one or another Germanic language. The p-word is a straight borrowing from Old French. The rest of the Anglo-Saxon expletives, however, are indeed Anglo-Saxon, except for the ending <i>-er</i> in some of them, which is ultimately of French and Latin origin, though now applied to many native words as well.John Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452247999156925669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-82584784363055502752009-08-22T14:38:53.943-04:002009-08-22T14:38:53.943-04:00All this scholarly discussion reminds me of the ol...All this scholarly discussion reminds me of the old story about the man, visiting Boston for the first time, who asks a cabdrive "Where can I get scrod?" The cabdriver answers "I've been asked that question many times before, but never in the pluperfect subjunctive." Must have been an out-of-work copy editor to know language that well.<br /><br />Retired in ElkridgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-49878775121279874222009-08-22T14:27:18.153-04:002009-08-22T14:27:18.153-04:00Mr. Sheidlower lists Middle Dutch fokken, "to...Mr. Sheidlower lists Middle Dutch <i>fokken</i>, "to thrust," "to copulate"; Norwegian <i>fukka</i>; Swedish <i>focka</i>; German <i>ficken</i>. He adds, "There is no way to know for sure which language is the ultimate source."John McIntyrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03559687583130468871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-66439109346662715272009-08-22T13:34:16.153-04:002009-08-22T13:34:16.153-04:00As I understand it, the word comes from the old Du...As I understand it, the word comes from the old Dutch "fukken," which means to slap, beat, or bang. Very little evolution was needed or occured.Anonymous the Wrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-56009750563270705692009-08-22T12:51:31.512-04:002009-08-22T12:51:31.512-04:00Thanks for a great article on one of my favorite w...Thanks for a great article on one of my favorite words. I even discussed the use and meaning of the word when I was teaching freshman college English comp classes. I think that discussion may have been the most enjoyed discussion of the semester. <br /><br />Now, as a proofreader, I've been know to utter the word from time-to-time. I will definitely have to buy the book.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Cassie Armstrong<br />Proofreader<br />MorningStar Editing: Cleaning up the verbal spill<br />www.morningstarediting.comCassie Armstronghttp://www.morningstarediting.comnoreply@blogger.com