The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #75378   Message #1323813
Posted By: PoppaGator
11-Nov-04 - 05:12 PM
Thread Name: BS: Cursing
Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
dianavan said (an hour or so ago):

"I thought 'fuck' was an abbreviation for, fornication under the command of the king' or something like that. Thought it dated back to a time in English history. Makes me wonder..."

Interesting -- I hadn't heard that theory, but one that I *have* heard is that The F Word was originally an acronym for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge," and that it was posted on the stocks where a person (usually if not always a woman, one would assume) was punished for said offence.

"Fornication Under the Command of the King" would be the opposite of unlawful -- but what instance of fornication would be mandated by the crown? Perhaps a "nobleman" claiming his "right" to bed some pretty young peasant bride-to-be?