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Come to the Allusionist live show Souvenirs in Toronto and Montréal in June ✨
Tickets and info: theallusionist.org/events ✨
Come to the Allusionist live show Souvenirs in Toronto and Montréal in June ✨ Tickets and info: theallusionist.org/events ✨
Welcome to Four Letter Word season!
We're kicking off with one of the most versatile words: it can be a noun, verb, punctuation, expostulation, full sentence on its own; it can be an intensifier, an insult and a compliment... and a Category A swear. Thus, of course, content note: this episode contains many category A swears, plus some sexual references.
Lexicographer and editor Jesse Sheidlower joins to talk about making four editions (so far) of The F Word, a history and dictionary of the multivalent F word.
Next up in Four Letter Word season: we revisit an even stronger swear.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
Otherlusionists: there are a few episodes about swearing, including Take a Swear Pill about the health benefits of swearing, the Swearalong Quiz to test your swear knowledge, and Detonating The C Bomb which would be worth revising before our next episode. Flyting mentions the first known appearance of the word ‘fuck’ in literature. Also check out the episode about the history of pornography, featuring Dr Kate Lister.
Allen Walker Read’s paper about the word ‘fuck’ without actually using it: An Obscenity Symbol (1934).
As well as that, Read did an awful lot of linguistic work…
…“Read found that in 1804 the Rockies were called the Northern Andes and that other names given to the range were Stony, Shining and Enchanted.”
Alumsionist Kate Wiles on the origin of ‘fuck’ - part 1 and part 2.
Alumsionist Ben Zimmer on fugazy/fugazi
Roger Fuckbythenavel and the Strange Case of the Queer Deer.
“During his research into these records from Chester, Dr. Booth also found other possible sexual nicknames, such as ‘Lirepynrel’, which means ‘irresponsible penis’.”
About Horace Walpole’s poem ‘Little Peggy’ and the consternation ancient and modern publishers were in over whether to publish it, because of obscenity, and because they were flapping about whether Walpole was gay.
Vol 1 of Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang by Jonathan Lighter.
John S. Farmer and W. E. Henley’s A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English.
Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses about every episode, fortnightly livestreams with me and my dictionaries, and the Allusioverse Discord community.
YOUR RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
katabatic, adjective, meteorology (of a wind):
caused by local downward motion of cool air.
Origin 19th century: from Greek katabatikos, from katabainein 'go down'.
CREDITS:
Jesse Sheidlower is a lexicographer, writer and editor. Among his work is the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction, which you can browse at sfdictionary.com, and the four editions - so far! - of The F Word. a history and dictionary of the word fuck and its many variants, available to buy now and it’s a fucking good read. Find out more about it and Jesse’s other work at jessesword.com.
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, on the unceded ancestral and traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Download his songs at palebirdmusic.com and listen to his podcasts Song By Song and Neutrino Watch.
Find the Allusionist at youtube.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow, @allusionistshow.bsky.social… Essentially: if I’m there, I’m there as @allusionistshow.
Back in two weeks with the next episode about another strong four-letter word - HZ.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:
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• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners eighteen free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist.
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