Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Acceptable use of the "F" word

Originally posted by Tourige:

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Originally posted by Mikey Boy:

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words are only bad when we make them bad. what does the word mean anyway?

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linky


While the 'f' word has the literal meaning of sexual intercourse, it is commonly considered vulgar in this usage. It is more commonly considered as one of the most impolite and flexible curse words in the English language being used as a verb, noun, adjective, adverb, and interjection.

It is unclear whether the word has always been considered impolite and, if not, when it was initially considered to be profane. Some evidence indicates that in some English-speaking locales it was considered acceptable as late as the 17th century meaning "to strike" or "to penetrate" [1]. Other evidence indicates that it may have become vulgar as early as the 16th century in England; thus other reputable sources such as the Oxford English Dictionary contend the true etymology is still uncertain, but appears to point to an Anglo-Saxon origin that in later times spread to the British colonies and worldwide.