Stop! Grammar Time! Origin of an Expletive.

Do you know where the f-word originally came from? Neither do I, but theories abound. Kate at So Long As It’s Words summarizes one incorrect historical account:

One origin story for fuck is that it comes from when sex was outlawed unless it was permitted explicitly by the king, so people who were legally banging had Fornication Under Consent of the King on their doors, or: F.U.C.K. But obviously that’s wrong. And if you do believe that, stop it. Stop it right now.

She goes on to identify early instances of the word and various theories as to its origin. I still prefer this obviously-incorrect one, though.

Anyway, here’s British actor Peter Capaldi saying “fuck” a lot in the 2009 film In the Loop:

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