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ArchivesRe: Names that have a "new" meaning
in reply to a message by Caprice
Fanny and Dick are no longer popular because they have become eponyms: the name was used to create a new word. "Dick" has been a slang term for "penis" in English since at least 1891 and probably longer; "fanny" has been slang for "vulva" in British English since at least 1879, and for "buttocks" in American English at least since 1920. I've always thought that the American slang term arose from American soliders during World War I hearing British soldiers talk about women's "fannies" and not quite understanding the reference! :)
Lagina of course only reminds people of "vagina" when you see it written, as it's normally pronounced "lah-JEE-nuh", not "lah-JYE-nuh". And it's always been very rare.
In the USA, you could add Peter to your list, as that name, like dick, is a slang term for "penis" in modern times. And Dorcas is avoided by modern parents because of the slang term "dork", which has been in use since 1967 as a term for "stupid person", and which itself may originally have been an alteration of "dick".
Lagina of course only reminds people of "vagina" when you see it written, as it's normally pronounced "lah-JEE-nuh", not "lah-JYE-nuh". And it's always been very rare.
In the USA, you could add Peter to your list, as that name, like dick, is a slang term for "penis" in modern times. And Dorcas is avoided by modern parents because of the slang term "dork", which has been in use since 1967 as a term for "stupid person", and which itself may originally have been an alteration of "dick".
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Sorry, put reply in the wrong spot again. Must be tired today! :)
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This message was edited 12/2/2006, 3:47 PM
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coincidence?
In Jeu des boules (pétanque, to be exact), a french game, if you loose without scoring any points yourself, you're forced to kiss the Fanny, her bottom that is.
if you scroll down there's the story about Fanny.
http://chateaulalinde.blogspot.com/2006/09/ptanque-or-boules-wonderful-french.html
In Jeu des boules (pétanque, to be exact), a french game, if you loose without scoring any points yourself, you're forced to kiss the Fanny, her bottom that is.
if you scroll down there's the story about Fanny.
http://chateaulalinde.blogspot.com/2006/09/ptanque-or-boules-wonderful-french.html
This message was edited 12/1/2006, 3:42 AM
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see below (nt here)
This message was edited 12/2/2006, 3:52 PM
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I don't think this can be a complete coincidence, but without further evidence than this one website I don't know if the story about the waitress is true, or if it's the French version of an "urban legend" made up to account for Fanny being associated with "buttocks" in the context of this game. You will note that the story is supposedly from World War I, when is the time when English soldiers who would already have been using "fanny" in its vulgar sense would have been in France. The usual explanation for how "fanny" came to have that sense in England is that it has something to do with the erotic novel Fanny Hill, which was first published in 1749.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Hill
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