A Conversation for The Origins and Common Usage of British Swear-words

The swear word B*****ks

Post 1

saxonman63

I'm quite surprised that the real origin for this word wasn't given. It is derived from the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) word "Beallucus", meaning "testicles".


The swear word B*****ks

Post 2

Recumbentman

Yes, the earliest citation for bollock-block in the OED is as late as 1799, while the word beallucas meaning testicles is found in Old English, and again (spelt ballokes) in a version of Wycliffe's Bible (14th century).


The swear word B*****ks

Post 3

ITIWBS

...so 'b***s' is just a cyclothymic contraction, like "...life in the 'hood..."?


The swear word B*****ks

Post 4

Recumbentman

Hadn't thought of that. Balls seemed self-explanatory.


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