tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post2220152113801912825..comments2024-03-16T00:21:43.240+00:00Comments on Separated by a Common Language: sluttylynneguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-7588641053978955892022-09-23T01:19:02.371+01:002022-09-23T01:19:02.371+01:00I am looking at 1866 Irish Dog License Registratio...I am looking at 1866 Irish Dog License Registrations and in the Sex category am finding dog, slut and bitch. I started Googling to see what the difference between slut and bitch might have been.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-2529130366156455302021-12-28T20:14:48.280+00:002021-12-28T20:14:48.280+00:00The OED has now done a full revision of slut and r...The OED has now done a full revision of <i>slut</i> and related words. The sexually promiscuous sense of <i>slutty</i> has been antedated to 1912, in an Irish source, while for <i>sluttish</i>, their earliest evidence of the sexual sense is 1931, from Evelyn Waugh's diary. The slovenly senses are now all marked "somewhat dated", "dated", or "obsolete".<br /><br />Just to re-emphasize: the sexually promiscuous meaning of <i>slut</i> is <b>not</b> the "American meaning". Both the promiscuous and slovenly senses go back to the 1400s; in fact, given the scarcity of evidence before printing, and since (as the OED notes) early uses can mean both, it's impossible to tell which meaning is older. It would be more accurate to say that AmE has only the sexual meaning while BrE has (or used to have) both.<br /><br />The use of <i>slut</i> for a female dog was already in the OED in the first edition; it's now marked "Chiefly U.S. and Australian", with earliest citations from American sources — which surprises me, since I'm American and I'd never heard of it. I think it's obsolete in AmE now.ktschwarznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-76617742594565786342021-12-28T11:05:27.968+00:002021-12-28T11:05:27.968+00:00In Australia, C. 1900, slut was the term used for ...In Australia, C. 1900, slut was the term used for a female dog in polite conversation, to avoid saying the absolutely taboo word bitch. I don't know if this was a purely Australian usage. I recall older people speaking of a collie slut, no derogatory meaning at all. With humans, it meant an untidy or incompetent housewife.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01165312677357974536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-22625624959717856872019-08-28T15:47:47.420+01:002019-08-28T15:47:47.420+01:00Not much more harsh in England, but subtly so. Tar...Not much more harsh in England, but subtly so. Tart in this sense refers to someone's overall appearance or how they present themselves. Dress is just one aspect of this. Davonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-64993043728794023492014-08-28T22:52:20.877+01:002014-08-28T22:52:20.877+01:00Turns out most Australians have forgotten the orig...Turns out most Australians have forgotten the original sense too: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/aldi-takes-roald-dahls-revolting-rhymes-off-shelves-over-the-word-slut" rel="nofollow">Aldi takes Roald Dahl book off Australian shelves over the word 'slut'</a>Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12517467727697482797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-53805771300238149952012-11-11T22:26:56.929+00:002012-11-11T22:26:56.929+00:00London/Kent BE Speaker here. I've never, ever ...London/Kent BE Speaker here. I've never, ever heard anyone use the adjective "slutty" to mean anything other than promiscuous. <br /><br />I'm aware of the other meaning, but only from old books. Even my parents wouldn't use the term to mean slovenly, but they would use it to mean promiscuous/skimpily attired (aged 55 from the Home Counties and 65, South London respectively).<br /><br />The only time I've heard it used to mean domestically lazy is in Bridget Jones style books as an attempt by 30something women circa 1997 trying to "reclaim" an old fashioned word to make their negative qualities sound cool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-22797310626143469962011-08-10T10:49:06.538+01:002011-08-10T10:49:06.538+01:00There seems to be a similar phenomenon in German: ...There seems to be a similar phenomenon in German: "Schlampe" used to mean "a slovenly female", but nowadays it´s almost only used for "a promiscuous female" (and it´s a very derogative term, much like "slut"). The adjective "schlampig", however, is, in my experience, still (mostly) used in the sense of "slovenly/"not very clean"/"not neat". <br />(school teacher, female, 31)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-12917301903347923502011-08-07T20:26:22.070+01:002011-08-07T20:26:22.070+01:00It sounds realllly bad in American to call someone...It sounds realllly bad in American to call someone a slut. I can't think of an equiv that's precise in 'feeling' in BrE. In fact, the only equivalents I can think of are AmE! I think this is because I didn't have my teenage years (when people are freer with sexual insults) in the UK.lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-36886561636192847952011-08-07T19:13:38.762+01:002011-08-07T19:13:38.762+01:00A conversation with my American husband today has ...A conversation with my American husband today has led me to think that slut is a stronger word in America than in England. It's not a bad word to me, but although he and I agree on the meaning, he considers it offensive and I don't. Can anyone give me an idea of how it sounds to an American?Semidetachedbrithttp://Www.semidetachedbrit.Tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-60953510059592983622008-08-28T20:33:00.000+01:002008-08-28T20:33:00.000+01:00That prolific poster Anonymous asked: >>can ...That prolific poster Anonymous asked: >>can slob refer to both genders in British English as well?<<<BR/><BR/>It most certainly can, Anon. See the characters Wayne and Waynetta Slob in the BBC television sketch show "Harry Enfield and Chums":<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRlV5RuZ-R0Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10718209592445394736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-72764182037890627872008-08-23T19:08:00.000+01:002008-08-23T19:08:00.000+01:00It's certainly not the sort of word here that woul...It's certainly not the sort of word here that would be replaced by asterisks in the sensationalist press (not that they would use it at all, but you know what I mean!).Mrs Redboots (Annabel Smyth)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11270027663691257254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-10553777249224364762008-08-23T19:03:00.000+01:002008-08-23T19:03:00.000+01:00The notion of a difference between American and Br...The notion of a difference between American and British uses of "slut" has come to my attention before. Specifically, in one of the last Harry Potter books, I was somewhat taken aback when JK Rowling used "slut" at least once or twice in the text.<BR/>I asked my one British friend whether "slut" was a less severe word in Britain than in America, and he said he didn't think so. I may not have a very firm grasp on the way my own culture (north-east USA) uses the word, but I would not have described it as a word fit for use in a family publication in AmE. I'm no prude about profanity, but the use of this one word in HP, otherwise seemingly free of dirty words (although there could be enough British profanities that a native BrE speaker would describe the volumes as liberally speckled with filth, which I don't even notice), stands out to me like a sore thumb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-20817931208077882862008-08-22T22:49:00.000+01:002008-08-22T22:49:00.000+01:00it was a cookery book for slatterns, not for the s...<I> it was a cookery book for slatterns, not for the sexually promiscuous, </I><BR/><BR/>I have read "slattern" to be used for promiscuoous (but coupled as well w/ the sense of a servant who cleans, or woman of low social birth)<BR/><BR/><BR/>Also, a "pizza slut" isn't *just* someone who really likes pizza. It's someone who isn't picky about what pizza they eat, and who will eat pizza from ANY pizzeria, no matter how delicious or well-made it is or isn't. It's the lack of pickiness or discrimination that makes one a "slut," not the volume.<BR/><BR/>Also, I have always reaction to "slovenly" as really, really, really garbagey. People w/ slovenly homes don't just have a lot of dust and dirt; they have mold growing in the dog poop on the rotting floor.TootsNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250160403913606481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-8293411189207985902008-08-22T15:37:00.000+01:002008-08-22T15:37:00.000+01:00Maybe sleaze or lecher? perv?Maybe sleaze or lecher? perv?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-29948027035634209402008-08-22T15:34:00.000+01:002008-08-22T15:34:00.000+01:00There you go, babe or hot mama or something. I agr...There you go, babe or hot mama or something. I agree.<BR/><BR/>Pimp has more negative connotations but isn't right either to correspond with slut or ho... wanker comes closer, somehow, as far as insult.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-66021666528981752822008-08-22T09:23:00.000+01:002008-08-22T09:23:00.000+01:00The female version of stud would probably be babe....The female version of stud would probably be babe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-17044211873117500092008-08-21T22:06:00.000+01:002008-08-21T22:06:00.000+01:00I don't think of slob being male-specific, though ...I don't think of slob being male-specific, though the preponderance of slobs may be male. :) <BR/><BR/>Stud is a good try, but I don't think this is the corresponding term for slut. This may be social bias, where women are condemned for sexual promiscuity and men are praised. Slut is an insult and stud is a compliment. Stud means more like virile than indescriminate. I'm not sure what the corresponding term to stud would be for a woman. Fertile mertyl doesn't quite make it. <BR/><BR/>Stud to me does not necessarily mean that he beds a lot of people, only that he is a catch- that he's good looking and has the qualities, like those of stud animals,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-39454519169132789272008-08-21T13:22:00.000+01:002008-08-21T13:22:00.000+01:00Good Lord - you've taught me something I did not k...Good Lord - you've taught me something I did not know about British English! <BR/><BR/>I too would have completely misunderstood the use of "slutty"!<BR/><BR/>JanetJanethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16494516976868488211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-17767027348310603532008-08-21T10:11:00.000+01:002008-08-21T10:11:00.000+01:00I was musing on just this gender divide - yes I th...I was musing on just this gender divide - yes I think that 'slob' usually refers to untidy men, corresponding to the slovenly aspect of 'slut'. Now, as to the promiscuous aspect - would the male version be 'stud'? Somehow the male words don't carry the weight of disapproval that 'slut' does when either interpretation is referred to women.<BR/>But I feel society has moved on a little when it is no longer acceptable to criticise a woman for not being a perfect housekeeper. We might think nowadays of a seriously houseproud woman as a bit of a control freak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-15848872737352615352008-08-21T10:09:00.000+01:002008-08-21T10:09:00.000+01:00I don't think it's very strange that the slovenly ...I don't think it's very strange that the slovenly meaning of "slut" applies only to women -- women have traditionally been responsible for keeping homes tidy. Sometimes language changes more slowly than social mores.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-76661030137499809642008-08-21T00:07:00.000+01:002008-08-21T00:07:00.000+01:00As an American, I've obviously never heard the ter...As an American, I've obviously never heard the term 'slut' in the slovenly sense. It's curious that the slovenly sense of the word only applies to women. Is 'slob' the male equivalent? Or can slob refer to both genders in British English as well?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-51820233989240744362008-08-20T22:50:00.000+01:002008-08-20T22:50:00.000+01:00as someone who grew up on both sides of the pond, ...as someone who grew up on both sides of the pond, I use and recognise both senses of 'slut'. However I would generally expect 'slutty' to express the NAmE sense of the word, and would use 'sluttish' to express the 'slovenly' meaning.ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036209994244477176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-19695413317398175922008-08-20T20:23:00.000+01:002008-08-20T20:23:00.000+01:00Seconding Cameron: In Ireland too, you can slag so...Seconding Cameron: In Ireland too, you can slag someone instead of slagging them off. Probably related is the Australian "sledging" - barracking or insulting remarks to an opponent - the secret of Australia's sporting success :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-84118618415333104732008-08-20T19:54:00.000+01:002008-08-20T19:54:00.000+01:00"Jane, you ignorant slut!" was a regular line from..."Jane, you ignorant slut!" was a regular line from Saturday Night Live, given by Dan Ackroyd when they got into "debate" during the faux news segment, Weekend Update. <BR/>I doubt it was a reference to her tidiness.Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-7765665022112119192008-08-20T15:56:00.000+01:002008-08-20T15:56:00.000+01:00I (BrE) have found myself about to describe someon...I (BrE) have found myself about to describe someone (female) as a 'slut' and changing it into 'slob' to avoid the sexual connotation - 'couch potato' is a good term to describe one aspect of slobbish behaviour; I have a teenage son....<BR/>As to tarts, JHM - I think 'tarty' does describe dress rather than morals although it also falls into the spectrum of tart/slut/whore to describe promiscuous (figuratively)behaviour, as described by Jonathan. For example, a media tart will take any opportunity to appear on TV chat shows, and a rate tart will move money around from one account to another to take advantage of favourable interest rates. Tarts sound much more energetic than sluts or whores!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com