the original definition of the word c***

[niyad]

I could go on with an extensive list, but these two will start. the reality is that many of the words used to insult women since the patriarchy were originally titles of goddesses, words of honour, and I wear them proudly. the last time a man called me a c***, I clasped my hand to my chest and gushed, "you called me a c***, that is one of the titles of the goddess. I had no idea you thought so highly of me. nobody has ever honoured me that much before". I guarantee he has never used that word again.



Bitch – This became a naughty word in Christian Europe because it was one of the sacred titles of the Goddess, Artemis-Diana, leader of the “hunting dogs.”…In Christian terms, “son of a bitch” was considered insulting not because it meant a dog, but because it meant a devil-that is, a spiritual son of the pagan Goddess.” Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths & Secrets by Barbara G. Walker

Cunt – Derivative of the Oriental Great Goddess as Cunti, or Kunda, the Yoni of the Uni-verse. From the same root came county, kin, and kind. Related forms were Latin cunnus, Middle English cunte, Old Norse and Frisian kunta, Basque cuna. Other cognates are “cunabula,” a cradle, or earliest abode; “Cunina,” a Roman Goddess who protected children in the cradle; “cunctipotent,” all-powerful (i.e., having cunt-magic); “cunicle,” a hole or passage; “cuniculate,” penetrated by a passage; “cundy,” a coveted culvert; also cunning, kenning, and ken: knowledge, learning, insight, remembrance, wisdom. Cunt is “not slang, dialect or any marginal form, but a true language word, and of the oldest stock.” Barbara G. Walker – Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths & Secrets

Adam – Adamah, meaning “bloody clay,” though scholars more delicately translate it “red earth.” Barbara G. Walker – Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths & Secrets

http://www.ymib.com/daily-inspiration/inspiration/blogs/surprising-and-not-so-surprising-definitions.html

[seabeyond]

1. you can clean it up all you want. it is in the intent..... not gonna fly. n/t

[Deja Q]

3. Well, other words change their meanings over time too.

The history lesson is fun, but if it's not available on the xbox, PS3, or gamecube, nobody's going to give a jobby about it.

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

6. ya....i thought it was interesting the first time i read it too. but it was also

used in the contents to tell me that it really is not an offensive word and i really shouldnt be bothered. kinda like we are all going around calling ourselves bitches now. and younger generation are all whores. the only ones we cannot call a whore to is the erson that sells body/sex for money.

but yes.... this post of original definition is interesting.

it is not what is meant when a woman is called it by a male.

[niyad]

5. you misunderstand. I wasn't trying to "clean it up" or defend that

jerk mclame. just pointing out that the words that are used in derogation of women have their origins in words of honour that have been completely twisted, thanks to the patriarchy.

[seabeyond]

7. interesting perspective. thank you

thank you for non combatively telling me why you posted. lol. i appreciate

[niyad]

12. not a problem. have you ever read mary daly's "wickedary"?

most enlightening as to the original meaning of many words that the patriarchy has twisted.

one of my friends has a wonderful response to being called a bitch. she replies, "AKC registered, darling" I just respond, "you say that like it's a bad thing".

[seabeyond]

15. lol lol. cute. and i would find that interesting. thanks. n/t

[Quantess]

2. Uh huh. And a "fag" was a cigarette. (eom)

[Deja Q]

4. "gay" once meant happy, then meant "homosexual male", and now means "stupid", at least in California

Snow happens.

[datasuspect]

8. i think they still are in britain

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. I thought it was from the Latin "cunnus" which means vulva.

You may also remember "cunnus" from its appearance is such acts as "cunnilingus."

[ZombieHorde]

10. That is very interesting to me.

But I still won't use the word as an insult.

[LostinVA]

11. Meanings of words change -- "bitch" and "c*nt" are now slurs and shouldn't be on DU

I don't know what the point of this post is.

[niyad]

16. I stated the point at the beginning. knowing the original meanings of words

and how they got turned around to mean something completely different is important.

[Annces]

13. Thats funny

He won't use it after he found out it is a title of honor.

[liberal N proud]

14. Glad you could turn it around on the guy

He still should have been taken down for it. If the insult happened at work, he should have been fired.

[niyad]

18. no, it was somebody trying to insult me for the work I was doing for women's rights-

a typical mcp trying to intimidate me with his viewpoint, as if I was supposed to care what he thought.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. Thank you for this post. n/t

[Echo In Light]

19. Growing up around recreational drug use, "straight" = non-druggie person

Anyone recall the "forward, never straight" line re driving?

"Limp wristed" was also implied to anyone or anything considered weak, and wasn't an intentional insult to gays...much the same way the word "gay" is used as frequently as "retarded" when hurling insults. I've gotten to the point where I cringe when I hear either, as they're unfortunately used to the nth degree.

[depakid]

20. It may be in Chaucer

as "queynte" and Shakespeare messed with it in wordplay, but that's a little different than its current usage, don't you think?

[Crunchy Frog]

21. Check out these song lyrics from the early 1700's.

My Mistress' Cunny
D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719

My mistress is a hive of bees
In yonder flowery Garden:
To her they come with loaden thighs,
To ease them of their burden.
As under the bee-hive lieth the wax,
And under the wax is honey,
So under her waist her belly is placed -
And under that, her cunny.

My mistress is a mine of gold,
Would that it were her pleasure
To let me dig within her mould
And roll among her treasure!
As under the moss the mould doth lye,
And under the mould is mony,
So under her waist her belly is placed -
And under that, her cunny.

My mistress is a morn in May,
Which drops of dew down stilleth:
Where'er she goes to sport and play,
The dew down sweetly trilleth.
As under the sun the mist doth lye,
So under the mist it is sunny,
So under her waist her belly is placed -
And under that, her cunny.

My mistress is a pleasant spring,
That yieldeth store of water sweet,
That doth refresh each wither'd thing
Lies trodden under feet.
Her belly is both white and soft,
And downy as any bunny,
That many gallants wish full oft
To play but with her cunny.

My mistress hath the magick sprays,
Of late she takes such wondrous pain
That she can pleasing spirits raise,
And also lay them down again.
Such power hath my tripping doe,
My pretty little bunny,
That many would their lives forego,
To play but with her cunny.

:hide:

[spanone]

22. i have two british golfing pals who use the word all the time....sometimes a term of endearment

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

23. It doesn't have the same connotation in Britain and Ireland

as it does in the US. My husband uses the word sometimes when he is referring to someone he dislikes but he has never used it referring to me. I'd knock his teeth in if he did.