| Author |
Message |
Phil C.
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:45 pm
Post subject: Beaver. |
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The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called
"Beavers". The history of the term is at
<http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/beavers/index-pr.htm>
It was variously introduced 1966 -1982. Does this suggest that the
obscene slang use of "beaver" wasn't in common use then? Or were those
involved a little naive? Does it cause any embarrassment?
<http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=beaver> suggests that the
slang use is actually British in origin and dates back to 1927. Has it
been in constant use since then or has it been re-imported? I don't
remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American
novel.
--
Phil C.
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Brian {Hamilton Kelly}
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:25 am
Post subject: Re: Beaver. |
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On Wednesday, in article
<akh101ldkqm8eso808glisupm19n4fi0uv@4ax.com>
philstoxicwaste@fsmail.net "Phil C." wrote:
| Quote: | The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called
"Beavers". The history of the term is at
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/beavers/index-pr.htm
It was variously introduced 1966 -1982. Does this suggest that the
obscene slang use of "beaver" wasn't in common use then? Or were those
involved a little naive? Does it cause any embarrassment?
|
I don't think that meaning was in common circulation in the UK, although
ISTR magazines like Playboy (and authors such as Mickey Spillane)
mentioning the word in a sexual context. But these were trans-Atlantic
usages, with little relevance to English.
| Quote: | http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=beaver> suggests that the
slang use is actually British in origin and dates back to 1927. Has it
been in constant use since then or has it been re-imported? I don't
remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American
novel.
|
"Beaver!" was in common use, shouted by youths at bearded men in pre-WWII
years (I'm unsure of the actual date range: I recall my grandmother
mentioning that uncouth youths would have such temerity to pass personal
remarks upon a stranger; it would presumably have been after it became
less common for men to be bearded, so perhaps the 1930s).
SFAICS, its use for the pudenda only gained wider circulation, in the UK,
with the film "Naked Gun 2-1/2" (if that is the right one).
--
Brian {Hamilton Kelly} bhk@dsl.co.uk
"Je n'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce que je n'ai pas eu
le loisir de la faire plus courte."
Blaise Pascal, /Lettres Provinciales/, 1657 |
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John Mazor
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:18 am
Post subject: Re: Beaver. |
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"Phil C." <philstoxicwaste@fsmail.net> wrote in message
news:akh101ldkqm8eso808glisupm19n4fi0uv@4ax.com...
| Quote: | The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called
"Beavers". The history of the term is at
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/beavers/index-pr.htm
It was variously introduced 1966 -1982. Does this suggest that the
obscene slang use of "beaver" wasn't in common use then? Or were those
involved a little naive? Does it cause any embarrassment?
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=beaver> suggests that the
slang use is actually British in origin and dates back to 1927. Has it
been in constant use since then or has it been re-imported? I don't
remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American
novel.
|
Well, it couldn't have had widespread currency in serious usage in the U.S.
in the 1950s, or we wouldn't have had the popular sitcom "Leave It to
Beaver." You couldn't even say "pregnant" on the air.
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Phil C.
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Beaver. |
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On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 22:58:58 -0500, "John Mazor" <mazorj@erols.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | "Phil C." <philstoxicwaste@fsmail.net> wrote in message
news:akh101ldkqm8eso808glisupm19n4fi0uv@4ax.com...
The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called
"Beavers". The history of the term is at
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/beavers/index-pr.htm
It was variously introduced 1966 -1982. Does this suggest that the
obscene slang use of "beaver" wasn't in common use then? Or were those
involved a little naive? Does it cause any embarrassment?
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=beaver> suggests that the
slang use is actually British in origin and dates back to 1927. Has it
been in constant use since then or has it been re-imported? I don't
remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American
novel.
Well, it couldn't have had widespread currency in serious usage in the U.S.
in the 1950s, or we wouldn't have had the popular sitcom "Leave It to
Beaver." You couldn't even say "pregnant" on the air.
|
I'm pretty sure I first came across it in Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of
Champions (1973). The central character is a science fiction writer
who is reduced to publishing in porno mags. Hence the immortal hook
"Wide open beavers inside!" I'd assumed it was a common American term.
--
Phil C. |
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