A Conversation for The Origins and Common Usage of British Swear-words
The swear word B*****ks
saxonman63 Started conversation Jul 23, 2007
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
Recumbentman Posted Aug 25, 2015
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
ITIWBS Posted Aug 25, 2015
...so 'b***s' is just a cyclothymic contraction, like "...life in the 'hood..."?
The swear word B*****ks
Recumbentman Posted Aug 26, 2015
Hadn't thought of that. Balls seemed self-explanatory.
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The swear word B*****ks
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