words used today that didn't mean that years ago

[shadowshiv]

language evolves. It always has. And, consider the fact that your language is only one of many. The words you get irritated over don't even mean ANYthing to someone who doesn't share your language

I really don't know what the schnizzle you're de-nizzling about, Karrie.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Dude - used to mean someone who was from the Eastern USA and completely ignorant of the ways of the West. It was generally taken to be an insult. Now it is used in the same way as "buddy" or "friend.".

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Hey dude, check the melons on the hot chick that geek is hanging onto.

Used to mean:

Hey ignorant easterner, check the fruits of any of various plants of the gourd family on the baby chicken with the elevated temperature that guy who bites the heads off chickens is hanging onto.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Hey dude, check the melons on the hot chick that geek is hanging onto.

Used to mean:

Hey ignorant easterner, check the fruits of any of various plants of the gourd family on the baby chicken with the elevated temperature that guy who bites the heads off chickens is hanging onto.

Quite right. Geek used to be applied to the sideshow acts in circuses. Another such term is "nerd," which at one time was applied to those considered stupid or incompetent.

Boob brings to mind another word - "butt," which used to mean a barrel or the end of a wooden staff or a rifle stock.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Yep, and an ass used to be just a donkey. I think gun butt is still in use though, and butt as a barrel you'll still find among the brewing and distilling trades.

 

[Colpy]

Gay - used to mean happy. Not now - it is now sexuall preference.

Completely ruined on of my favourite Christmas songs......

"Don we now our gay apparel"

brings to mind images that just don't fit....

 

[Bar Sinister]

Completely ruined on of my favourite Christmas songs......

"Don we now our gay apparel"

brings to mind images that just don't fit....

I always enjoyed the Pogo version of that carol. Very amusing for those who know it.

 

[ironsides]

If I remember correctly the word gay as used to describe a homosexual originated in the later 19th century in reference to male actors playing female roles. They were referred to as "les gais" and the name was passed on to homosexual activity.

As for a word that has completely changed its meaning there are thousands of them. One such word is chauffeur which originally referred to someone who shoveled coal into a furnace as in a steam train. When automobiles were invented the word was transferred to those who drove cars.

gay used to mean being happy.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

I always enjoyed the Pogo version of that carol. Very amusing for those who know it.

Don't recall seeing that one, I remember only Walt Kelly's version of Deck the Halls, "... with Boston Charley, Walla Walla Wash. and Kalamazoo..." Those are deliberate of course, but there's a big archive of misheard lyrics at The Archive of Funny Misheard Music Lyrics - KissThisGuy.com, named for a mishearing of the Jimi Hendrix lyric "...'scuse me while I kiss the sky." My favourite is the line from John Fogerty's Bad Moon Rising, "there's a bad moon on the rise" which sounds like "there's a bathroom on the right." And it almost makes sense in context too; after being told there are earthquakes, lightning, hurricanes, and floods coming, you might want to run to the bathroom.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Don't recall seeing that one, I remember only Walt Kelly's version of Deck the Halls, "... with Boston Charley, Walla Walla Wash. and Kalamazoo..." Those are deliberate of course, but there's a big archive of misheard lyrics at The Archive of Funny Misheard Music Lyrics - KissThisGuy.com, named for a mishearing of the Jimi Hendrix lyric "...'scuse me while I kiss the sky." My favourite is the line from John Fogerty's Bad Moon Rising, "there's a bad moon on the rise" which sounds like "there's a bathroom on the right." And it almost makes sense in context too; after being told there are earthquakes, lightning, hurricanes, and floods coming, you might want to run to the bathroom.

Walt Kelly drew Pogo.