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Straight edge

When someone labels him or herself straight edge, it usually means that they do not drink, smoke cigarettes, use drugs or have promiscuous sex. While these rules may change from group to group (some people believe you must be a vegetarian or vegan, abstain from caffeine and live medication-free to be truly straight edge), the term is most often used with pride.

The first use of the term appeared during the turn of the 20th century and referred to eating habits. As early as 1900, there was a restaurant that served only health food called the "Straight-Edge Kitchen." There was also a comic from that period depicting several men, dubbed "Straight-Edgers," having a vegetarian meal. But the term, used as we know it today, didn't take off until the early 1980s, when the punk scene began to embrace the concept of a healthy lifestyle.

When some punks became fed up with the self-destructive behavior they usually saw within the punk lifestyle, straight edge began. They continued to go to the shows and listen to the music, but decided to abstain from smoking, drinking, doing drugs and participating in casual sex. Many wore X's on their hands to show their dedication to the clean lifestyle. The X's were originally a sign that the wearer was too young to drink, but straight edgers of all ages wore the X's voluntarily as a symbol of the choices they were making.

Minor Threat--one of the first bands to promote this clean punk lifestyle--wrote a song called "Straight Edge" in 1980. An excerpt of the lyrics: "I'm a person just like you/ But I've got better things to do/ Than sit around and https://jamii.app/JFUserGuide my head/ Hang out with the living dead/ Snort white shit up my nose/ Pass out at the shows/ I don't even think about speed/ That's something I just don't need/ I've got the straight edge."

Today, the straight edge lifestyle is vibrant and full of many different types of people--punks or not. However, not everyone in the movement has been so open-minded to those who choose to live differently. Considering what a personal thing being straight edge is, it's surprising how often it's associated with violence.

In Utah during the 1990s, several people claimed that there were straight edge based gangs and that these gangs attacked anyone who wouldn't conform to their lifestyle. The media coverage of these events led many people to form the mistaken opinion that being straight edge was about being violent. Most straight edgers stress that violence is not what they are about. For most, being straight edge is all about personal choice--being who you are and not letting destructive behavior get in the way of a healthy lifestyle.
 
Stoner

Way back, as early as 14th century England, "stone blind" or "stone drunk" meant being as blind or as drunk as you could get. "Stoned"--the state of being very intoxicated by drugs or alcohol--probably grew from that.

But it wasn't until the 1970s that anyone was ever called a "stoner," a term that still means about the same thing: someone whose life revolves around getting high from smoking marijuana.

"Stoner" arrived when marijuana stopped being just a "hippie" thing and came into wider use. Stoners didn't necessarily have any connection to the utopian, peace-loving, communal-living hippie values that had spread the use of pot earlier. But they did have the reputation for being very laid-back that they have today.

Stoners are stereotypically harmless but useless: Not liable to steal anything like a crack user might be expected to do, for example, and not hurting anybody--but not contributing much, either.( Debates continue to rage about how addictive or dangerous pot is, but there is clear evidence of harm to young people who are still developing physically and mentally.)

Lately, popular culture seems to be obsessed with everything associated with the mellow 1970s, including marijuana madness. Now there's even "stoner rock": basically '70s-style music with a modern, experimental twist.
 
Spic

In Jennifer Lopez's hit song I'm Real (circa 2001), she used the word "nigga" in the song lyrics. Part of the African-American community took issue with J-Lo's choice of words since she is of Latino descent. It wasn't long before two DJ's from HOT 97 (a New York city radio station), began to refer to J-Lo as a "spic bitch." What is the meaning behind this racist slur? And where did the term spic originate?

The word "spic" is a derogatory term used in reference to a person of Latin American/Hispanic descent. Like the words "nigger" and "gook," this term is seen as a racist slur--and looked down upon when used by non-Latinos.

Though the exact date is not known, the word began to appear during the early 1900s. One of the first uses of the word was published in Ladies' Home Journal in 1919. An article started, "The Marines had been ... silencing the elusive 'spick' bandit in Santo Domingo."

There are several theories on the origin of this term. While some believe the term as simply a shortened version of the word Hispanic (hiSPanIC), one of the more popular explanations is that it is a reference to the way Latinos speak English. In Esmeralda Santiago's memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican, she elaborates:

"We call themgringos, they call us spiks."
"What does that mean?"
"Well...there are many Puerto Ricans in New York, and when someone asks them a question they say, 'I don spik inglish' instead of 'I don't speak English.' They make fun of our accent."

Today, the term has been embraced by some of the Latino community. For example, DJ Angie Martinez used the word throughout her 2001 album "Up Close and Personal" and the Latin group Cypress Hill also uses the word profusely. However, the term is generally considered derogatory if used by those who are not Latino.

Variations on the word include spik or spick.
 
Skank

The word "skank" is used to describe a person (originally a woman or girl) who is considered dirty or diseased because he or she is promiscuous or slutty. It is implied that a skank spreads sexually transmitted diseases. You may also hear "skank" used as an adjective to describe a thing or a place. As in, "Dude, that bathroom is skanky."

The roots of the word skank are slightly unclear, but it may come from the word "skag", a word that originated in the African-American community in the 1920s to mean a dirty, unclean woman of questionable repute. "Skank" is also a type of reggae/ska dance in which the dancers bend at the waist, and flail their arms in the air. The gyration of the hips during this dance may have lead to views of women who danced in this style as knowledgeable about sexuality and therefore "skanky." Either way, the term is racially charged, though that aspect of the word seems to be largely forgotten or ignored these days.

Sometimes it seems women who have lots of sex are "skanks", "hos","bitches" and "sluts," while men are virtually immune to "skankiness". Emily White explores the causes and repercussions of this double standard in her book, Fast Girls: Teenage Tribes and the Myth of the Slut.
 
Scenester

A scenester is someone who consciously tries to fit into a cultural scene based around a genre of music, art, film or other media. A scenester will adopt the fashion and habits of people in the scene (such as the comic book scene or the emo music scene) in an attempt to claim oneself as part of it.

The word scenester is used both as self-identification and as a derogatory statement. Someone may say, "I'm a scenester" or shorten it to "I'm scene" when identifying oneself. When used as an insult, it is usually in a snobby way suggesting, "You're a just scenester, but I'm the real thing."

The difference between a scenester and a person who is simply IN a culture is originality and sincerity. For example, a scenester in the emo music scene might think, "People who listen to emo music have shaggy black hair; therefore I should dye my hair and make it shaggy to prove that I listen to emo music." In reality, a hairstyle has nothing to do with a person's taste in music.

When people identify themselves as scenesters, they are stating their pride for fitting in with a group. Most scenesters find it comforting when they meet someone with the same image because they can assume that person also has the same interests. Most people feel a sense of belonging and security by joining a scene--because sometimes you don't know who you really are until you see it!

Some people are frustrated by scenesters and see them as trendy wannabes. Some scenesters will follow a scene that already exists without contributing to it like the musicians and artists who originally made up the scene.

Scenesters also bring underground scenes into the mainstream, which then "packages" the scene and turns it into a trend.

A good example is the punk music scene of the 1980s. Originally, punks wore ripped clothing held together by safety pins because they were against the capitalist system and therefore would not spend money on new clothes. Now, however, clothing can be bought pre-ripped and pinned as a fashion statement having nothing to do with political beliefs.

The band "Catch 22" has a song called "Day in Day Out" that expresses frustration with music scenes: "I don't need a music scene/ to tell me who I am..."
 
Retard

"Retard" means "slow" in French. When the word came into common English use in the 20th century to describe mentally retarded people, it was offered as a kinder alternative to medieval words like "idiot" and "fool" and images of pitiful, sometimes dangerous, social rejects.

Officially, mentally retarded people have low IQs and trouble learning certain skills. "Retard" as an insult is a comment on someone's intelligence--usually sparked by something small, like not getting a joke or saying something corny. The implication is that you are not just "slow" or "behind" at that moment, but in a permanent sort of way.

The word "retard" also has a patronizing effect--a common complaint from mentally retarded people is that they're treated like children--and that same inferior feeling also carries over to the insult.

Used as a joke, on the other hand, the word "retard" has lost its sting to the point where it can mean the opposite of slow and stupid. The word is making appearances lately on a range of super-sarcastic websites, cartoons and fanzines.
 
Redneck

To many people, the term "redneck" conjures images of trailer parks and rifle racks; hunting knives and confederate flags. Which is no wonder, given how often it's used as an insult to describe Southerners in the United States.

According to the stereotype, "rednecks" aren't just from the red states--they're often alcoholic and racist too. Calling someone a "redneck" is similar to calling them ""white trash"--it implies that they are poor and uneducated--but it's slightly more regional.

According to the "Oxford English Dictionary," this meaning of the word dates back to 1893 when it was a derogatory term used to insult rural farm workers. Farmers would work all day in the sun wearing straw hats and tee-shirts, and the backs of their necks would get sunburned. Get it, "red neck"? Since the South long remained the agricultural hub of the U.S., the term was eventually applied to Southerners in general.

The word was first used, however, in 1830, to refer to the Presbyterians of Fayetteville, Georgia. Some historians argue that today's meaning of the term originated with this reference to poor Scotch-Irish farmers.

These days, "redneck" has become a source of Southern pride in some circles. Comedians like Jeff Foxworthy turn "redneck" stereotypes into lighthearted mockery, as do television shows like "King of the Hill." Whether a source of pride or prejudice, it seems "redneck" culture has become a part of popular culture.
 
Queer

It seems like the term "queer" is everywhere these days. You can watch shows likeQueer as Folk or Queer Eye for the Straight Guyand rock out to the music of pop punk band The Queers. You can even study "Queer Theory" in college. So with all this queerness flying around...what does it actually mean?

In most cases, the term queer is used to reference someone who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) community. Depending upon who uses the word (and how), the term queer can be seen as an insult or as completely the opposite--a unifying label. The term can also mean something or someone who is strange or weird. For example, "That movie was a bit queer." However, this usage is mainly used by older generations (i.e. your grandparents).

So, where did this word come from? Well, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century. The term queer has always meant strange, suspicious or unusual. But it wasn't until the late 1800s that the term began to mean someone who was not heterosexual (in particular, homosexual men).

One of the earliest records of queer under this usage can be seen in a letter to Lord Alfred Douglas from his father John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, during the 1890s. At the time, Queensberry thought his son might be having an affair with the famous playwright Oscar Wilde, and accused Wilde of being a "sodomite."

From the 20th century on, the term has mainly been used as a derogatory remark. For example, someone might say, "He looks like such a queer." Since the word connoted homosexuality or sexual deviance, it was an obvious insult; and one that relied (and still relies) heavily on our homophobic culture.

However, beginning with the gay rights movement, many in the LGBT community reclaimed the word and embraced it. For example, Queeruption is an annual festival where people of all "queer sexualities" can get together, attend workshops and take in performances. People within the LGBT community may also refer to themselves as queer or use that term to explain their sexuality.
 
Pussy

"I never forget a pussy...cat."
-- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

If you've ever watched the 1997 movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, chances are you might have gotten a good laugh at the line above. After all, it does contain one of the more vulgar words in the English language: pussy; which is slang for vagina. But where did the term pussy come from? How was it originally used? And how do we use it today?

The term pussy originated a long time ago and was used in reference (still is) to a cat. However, the German term "puse," which means vulva or the Old Norse term "puss," which means pocket or pouch are also closely related to the word pussy. Over time, this word took on a feminine connotation. For example, Philip Stubbes wrote in his 1583 book The Anatomie of Abuses, "The word pussie is now used of a woman."

Pussy also means a "soft, warm, furry thing," and it was not long before it became a term of endearment towards women. In the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe, one of the male characters says to his daughter, "What do you think, pussy?"

Around the late 19th century, pussy began to take on its current sexual meaning. There was a famous vaudeville act preformed by the Barrison Sisters called "Would you like to see my pussy?" During this act, the sisters would rile up the audience with this simple question, only to lift up their skirts at the end to reveal a live kitten sewn into their underwear, with a hole created for the head of the kitten to look out. It was considered very risque and played on the double meaning of the word "pussy."

Since that time, other people have used the term for sexual innuendo, like the Bond character Pussy Galore and the pop-singing group (and burlesque act) The Pussycat Dolls. In addition, there are people who just like to use "pussy" as another word for vagina, like Jay-Z sings in the song "Pussy:"

"I know this girl we call her sweet cooch brown./Hands down mami had the bombest pussy in town."

The term is also used to refer to a coward. For example, someone might say (usually to a male), "Don't be such a pussy." This particular meaning is believed to have evolved from the old English word "pursy," which meant "fat and short-breathed; fat, short, and thick; swelled with pampering." It wasn't long before people connected effeminate men to this term due to its direct relation to a woman's body part.

Similar slang terms include: cunt, twat, poonani and coochie.
 
Punk

The style and attitude of punk rock--mohawks, anarchy and leather jackets--are what most people think of when they use the word "punk." But back in 16th century England, a "punk" was a prostitute.

By the 1920s, "punk" had developed into a slur for men who were the willing or unwilling submissive sex partners of other men in jails. As punks tended to be on the younger side, the word's meaning morphed into "juvenile delinquent." When the '50s rolled around, people hurled the term at young, leather-jacketed street toughs and hot-rodders.

In the 1970s, "punk" was co-opted by two young New York fanzine creators who welcomed the notion of being considered delinquents. They wrote about the new music that was emerging in reaction to the monster rock that ruled the airwaves, and named their zine "Punk." The music--from bands like the Ramones, Blondie and the diverse set of "street rockers" that coalesced around New York's CBGB--came to be known as punk, too.

From New York, "punk" music spread to England, where it became associated with the politics of anarchy and developed an aggressive aesthetic sensibility, thanks in no small part to the Sex Pistols. Punk became a revolt against conventional life and politics as well as music. This is where the classic punk look developed--safety pins, torn clothing and dyed, spiked hair--as an in-your-face attack on the mainstream.

These days, "punk" refers to a look, an attitude, an ethos, a style of music or a person who seems to espouse any of these. It can be hurled as an insult to label someone as degenerate or antisocial, or it can be worn as a badge of pride. Beyond that, however, the definition of punk has become confused (it can be a pretty touchy subject) because of its commercialization and the development of so many kinds of punk music and communities: racist skinheads, non-racist straight-edge skinheads and crusty punks, just to name a few.

For more about punk as an art movement, check out Greil Marcus' "Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century" and for more about the birth of the music scene, see “Please Kill Me: the Uncensored Oral History of Punk.
 
Prude

In pre-revolutionary France, "prode femmes" were proud, wise, virtuous women. It was a respectful and flattering term. By the time "prude" showed up in the English language in the early 1700s, however, there was nothing kind about it anymore.

Women, it turned out, could be TOO wise, too proper--for men's liking, at least, especially if it meant they weren't interested in sex.

"Prude" has been used ever since--not just in English but German and French too--against people perceived as uptight, usually women with proper manners or conservative ideas about sex (although now men are called "prudes" too).

Modern-day "prudes" also come in the form of government officials or activists campaigning against premarital sex, pornography, prostitution or homosexuality.
 
Prep

"Prep" is short for "preparatory." But unless you are doing "kitchen prep" before making a meal or getting ready for a test, the word usually refers to people who look like they could belong to the elite world of American preparatory schools.

The old-time New England prep schools--Andover, Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, etc.-- modeled themselves on English "public" schools like Eton (where Prince William graduated and Prince Harry still studies). The idea was to prepare the children of wealthy, WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) families for top colleges and life in the upper crust of society.

At this point, you don't have to be a WASP or travel to New England to go to prep school, and you certainly don't need to go to "prep" school to be labeled a "prep." Nowadays, it's more about how you look: understated but classic, wearing khakis maybe, and always lots of cotton. "Preppy" fashion is famously low-key because it is inspired by a class of people who don't care to flaunt their wealth. (Except for the not-so-subtle message of wearing clothes that suggest constant skiing, tennis and sailing--and the occasional loud plaid or hot pink.)

When the term "preppy" developed in the 1960s, it was with a mix of awe and annoyance. What was not to like about the clean-cut looks and the tastes of the "old money" prep-school crowd? But they were so insular, so spoiled...

Preppy pride soared in the conservative '80s, when Lisa Birnbach published "The Official Preppy Handbook," which extolled the joys of living among the best and brightest while dressed in navy blue and kelly green. Birnbach was kind of kidding, but a backlash followed with books like"101 Uses for a Dead Preppie" and the "I Hate Preppies Handbook."

Preps and their trappings have made a lot of enemies along the way. "The Catcher in the Rye"'s Holden Caulfield railed against the "fakes" at his New England prep school and ran away to the less stifling confines of New York City. Hip-hop's embrace of Tommy Hilfiger and other preppy brands has always been part poking fun at the status quo, part appreciation of the quality.

Meanwhile, there always seems to be a preppy fashion moment around the corner...
 
Poser

Poser this, poser that. Everybody thinks somebody is a poser. Or so it seems if you read internet message boards. Even ours... For example, you've probably heard someone say, "Avril Lavigne is such a poser," meaning she's not really punk, but she pretends like she is. Calling someone a poser is the same thing as accusing them of being fake or inauthentic. They may talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk, whether they're trying to be "punk" or "skater" or something else entirely.

People began using the word "poser" to refer to someone who "affects an attitude" in the late 19th century. It comes from the French word, "poseur," literally "one who poses"--like for a picture or an artist.

The term became popular within British and American punk subculture during the 1970s. Punks were defined by their anti-corporate values and they worked hard to maintain their outsider status. Ostensibly, they didn't want a mainstream "poser" casually adopting their look because it could dull the punk edge. They were afraid punk could become--and some would argue that it has--just a style of dress and music. Even if no one can agree what punk is--check out gURL's feature "What is Punk?" and you'll see what we mean--a lot self-identified punks feel like they know what it is not. And it's not, they argue, something that can be represented by a popular singer like Avril Lavigne.

These days, it's not just punks who use the word "poser." Goths use it, skaters use it, and lots of other groups who are worried that the statements they're trying to make with their alternative lifestyle are being commodified and reduced to a style of dress.
 
Pimp

The word "pimp" is one of those slang words that can be an insult or a compliment, depending on how you look at it. In hip-hop culture and now in more mainstream culture (i.e., MTV's "Pimp My Ride"), you may hear someone describe a car or a person as "pimped out," meaning it's decked out or done-up. In other words, it looks really cool. But something that's pimped out can border on being gaudy, which is why some people use the term negatively to say that something is "too much." Everyone's got their limits...

Originally, the word "pimp" was used to refer to a male owner of a brothel (whorehouse) or a man who procures prostitutes for customers and takes a cut of the pay...and is often abusive. Pimps are all over the movies, especially the Blaxploitation films of the '70s like "Shaft" or "Coffy," in which they're portrayed as flashy dressers. In a parody of the genre, the pimp in"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," actually wears clear plastic platform shoes with goldfish swimming inside. Presumably, it's because of these outrageous outfits that the word "pimp" has come to be used as a way of describing something souped up and cool.
 
Nympho

In Greek mythology, nymphs were beautiful beings associated with specific elements of nature. There were wood nymphs and water nymphs and nymphs who protected certain trees, meadows or mountains.

But just how did the term nympho (short for nymphomaniac), used to describe a woman with an overactive, or uncontrollable sex drive, come to derive from the name for these mythical creatures?

The Greek word νυμφη, or nymphe, has multiple meanings including "bride" and "veiled." Hence, nymphs, in addition to being beautiful and eternally youthful (though not necessarily immortal), were "marriageable" creatures. Descended from gods, it's no surprise that unions with a nymph were particularly auspicious, and resulted in the birth of kings and heroes. (Ever heard of Achilles? Well he was the son of King Peleus and Thetis, a water nymph.)

Unlike their contemporary counterparts, however, nymphs are often depicted as chaste, spiritual beings who fall victim to the obsessive sex drives of some Greek god or satyr. Such was the case with Daphne, the sun god Apollo's first love, who prayed to Zeus to save her from being ravished and was transformed into a tree.

In 1775 the French doctor M.D.T. Bienville transformed the meaning of the word nymph forever by combining it with mania (Latin for madness or insanity) to form the word nymphomania. He used it to describe a "female disease characterized by morbid and uncontrollable sexual desire."

The slang term nympho first appeared in 1935 and its meaning remained pretty much the same. Today the term is still reserved for women who, according to urbandictionary.com, "eat, breathe and live for sex." But just because a woman is interested in sex (or in the case of nymphos, extremely interested), doesn't make her slutty or whorish despite the connotations the term often carries.

After all, the nymphs of ancient Greece usually got involved with one lover or no lover at all. And just because a woman's interested in sex doesn't necessarily mean she's interested in having it with anyone and everyone she meets.
 
Nigger

The word "nigger" is a derogatory term for a person with dark skin, especially someone of African origin. It is a variation of the old racial classification "Negro," which comes from niger, the Latin word for the color black. Some historians think the word "nigger" started as the phonetic spelling of the Southern pronunciation of "Negro."

Most people consider the word "nigger" to be a racial slur, but it has recently been reclaimed within some parts of the African-American community as a term of endearment. In hip-hop and rap culture, for instance, "nigger" is almost always shortened to "nigga" or the plural, "niggaz" or "niggas." It's most often used by one black person to claim another black person as their friend or family (e.g., "my niggas"). Songs like Biggie Small's "Niggas" begins with a callout "To all my Brooklyn Niggas."

But the term is still very controversial. Whether it's considered offensive or not seems to depend very much on context. When white rappers--like Eminem--or film directors--like Quentin Tarantino--try to use the term nigger and its variations in a non-perjorative way, there tends to be more of a public outcry than when an African-American like Puffy does so. Ironically, they are accused of being "wiggers," which is short for white niggers.
 
Ho (*****)


There are zero putdowns in the English language for sexually promiscuous men, but so many ways to say that a woman is bad by virtue of being "loose" (slut, bitch, *****, just to name a few). And now hip-hop culture has brought us "ho."

The word came into the mainstream through rap music of the '80s and '90s. "She ain't nothing but another ho..." rapped KRS-1 in 1990--sounding very tame, actually, next to groups like NWA, 2 Live Crew and, later, Eminem.

"Ho" comes from the Southern pronunciation of the word "*****." But dropping the "r" sound is also supposed to dull the insult (sort of the way "nigga" takes some of the racial slur out of "nigger"). We're not calling you a *****, the argument goes; that's just what we call women.

Whatever the offense taken, or not taken, there is no shortage of misogyny in the word's illustrious past. In the flashy gangsta rap videos of the '80s and '90s, the ultimate sign of success was a backdrop of near-naked "bitches and ho's" jiggling on yachts and nice cars. Some rap artists really ran with the pimp-fantasy theme, all the way to lyrics about keeping their women in line with a "slap."

And over the years, the word has stretched to fit most things you could say against a woman--or anyone. Sightings include "hoe" (ugly woman), "ho-bitch" (dislikable woman) and "hobeast" (almost likeable, but too much of a wannabe slut). Not to mention "garden tool" (get it? from "hoe") as a general term for a woman.

As some people see it, time and changing music styles have taken the word "ho" down a notch; it's funnier now, and sometimes even friendly.

Some women in hip-hop are not so sure, however. They have chosen to keep the pressure on--ever since Queen Latifah made her first call to action in 1989, rapping: "Every time I hear a brotha call a girl a bitch or a ho/Tryin' to make a sista feel low/You know all of that's gotta go."

Hoes Wit Attitude took it a step further in the 90s, using their own name to make their point with the same sense of irony and humor behind Missy Elliott when she calls herself a "crazy ho."
 
Dude

Ted: Dude, are you sure we should be doing this?
Bill: Ted, you and I have witnessed many things, but nothing as bodacious as what just happened. Besides, we told ourselves to listen to this guy...
Ted: What if we were lying?
Bill: Why would we lie to ourselves?

--Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989
Why would you lie to yourselves dude? Also dudes, where did the word dude come from?

While Bill and Ted might not know the answer, we have a good idea right here. And, while the term "dude" might be associated with California and surfers in most people's minds, that's not where it came from.

Though dude's exact origin is unknown, a first use appeared in 1883 to refer to a "fastidious man" (or a man really concerned with his appearance--one dressing in a "fancy" style). This might have to do with the fact that "dude" could be a variation of the word "dud" which, at the time, was slang for clothing (ever heard someone be complimented on her nice duds?). On a side note, the female equivalent for dude in the 1880s (and no, it was not the now familiar "dudette" or "dudie") were "dudine" and "dudess."

Later, in the 1920s, the term evolved to describe a "city slicker"--most likely a man from the east coast who ended up on the west coast (for vacation, probably). Dude ranches were popular at the time, giving city dwellers a chance to live out the Wild West life.

The familiar surfer slang usage was first recorded in 1970, but did not really gain in popularity until the 1980s. This surge in popularity is most likely attributed to the word being used in TV and film, for example, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and, more recently, Dude, Where's My Car?

While dictionary.com defines the term dude as "a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming and manners" or as a "fellow; chap," dude is now used in a more gender-neutral fashion. It's not unlikely to hear a girl addressing her fellow girls as "dudes," such as "Hey, dude" or "Dude, what is wrong with you?" (The term "dudette"--used to refer to "female dudes"--though once popular in the '80s, has dropped from standard usage.)

Currently, the word dude is used in a more universal definition of "friend or associate." When not referring to a person, the word dude can also be used to express awe, satisfaction, surprise, and possibly any emotion depending on tone and context (sad: duuuude, happy: dude!, confused: dude?).
 
Cunt

"Cunt" is a dirty word for vaginas and the women who have them. Which is most--but not all--of us.

But seriously, few words in the English language pack as much punch into one syllable as does the word "cunt." Contained in that one syllable is a whole history of misogyny. Or so says Inga Muscio, who in her book "Cunt: A Declaration of Independence" traces the word back to its non-pejorative root. That's right, "cunt" wasn't always a dirty word. It was a neutral term for female genitalia.

In fact, "cunt" wasn't considered obscene until the 17th Century. The earliest known reference in English is to a street frequented by prostitutes called "Gropecuntlane." Which sounds like a Monty Python joke, but it's not. (Sound it out.) In fact, according to some etymologists, "cunt" was not used as a term of abuse for a woman until the 20th century. Before that it only referred to a part of the body.

According to critic Matthew Hunt, it was replaced like other four-letter words by polysyllabic ones, which were considered more respectable. He explains: "Thus, 'cunt' was replaced with 'vagina' and 'vulva', 'crap' gave way to 'excrement', and 'piss' was surpassed by 'urine'."

According to etymologists, the modern word "cunt" does not relate to the Latin word cunnus, meaning pudenda. We're not sure how they're so sure of it, but they swear "cunt" comes from the Germanic root, kunton meaning female genitalia. Which is interesting if you consider the fact that the Germanic root is ku- meaning "hollow place," and the Latin root is keu- meaning "to cover, to conceal." These days the cunt is definitely considered a hole and not something that goes over or covers something else. Then again, in the end, a cunnus is a kunton, is a cunt
 
Bitch

A bitch is a female dog (any kid on the playground can tell you that) or a female human who, like a dog, will whimper, growl and occasionally bite back. When someone calls a woman a bitch, the message is that she is straying from the quiet, obedient, "feminine" ideal. She is uppity--and needs to be controlled.

First used to describe lady dogs in 1000 A.D., "bitch" was applied to humans about 400 years later. The term has endured the test of time and is still a big favorite for putting a woman in her place. The modern twist is applying it to men. A male bitch is seen as "womanish": weak, whiny and submissive (and more than likely gay).

Like some other really sharp putdowns, "bitch" has been picked apart lately in an effort to remove its sting. In the early '90s, for instance, riot grrl bands like Bikini Kill and Huggy Bear scrawled the word on their skin, screamed it out in song and openly embraced other "bitchy" behaviors, like shouting at their fans. They gave "bitch" its own ironic twist in an attempt to "reclaim" it.

Around the same time, with male hip-hop artists like N.W.A. calling women bitches and hos in their rhymes, female hip-hop artists worked their own magic to diffuse the bitch bomb--most notably Queen Latifah, who demanded to know: "Who you callin' a bitch?" Lil' Kim turned the word on its head once again and proclaimed HERSELF the "Queen Bitch."

Want to embrace your own bitchiness? Read "Getting In Touch With Your Inner Bitch" by Elizabeth Hilts.
 
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