# English insults. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804 "2001-08-03T17:21:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/1 "2001-08-03T17:21:38Z")
What is a: 1. git 2. pillick 3. cloth eared bint Thanks much. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/2 "2001-08-03T17:26:30Z")
Git = get, meaning progeny = bastard. I don’t know the other two. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/3 "2001-08-03T17:37:41Z")
“bint” is an Arabic word meaning ‘daughter of’; however, I have heard it used as a derogatory terms for a woman, particularly of Mid-Eastern descent, akin to the word “c\*nt”. Not sure about the ‘cloth-eared’ designation, unless it refers to the wearing of a veil. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/4 "2001-08-03T17:42:48Z")
You need to save [this](http://www.viz.co.uk/profanisaurus/profanis.htm) link. Some of the meanings are not completely accurate but generally they are good. Pillock - Someone who does something blindingly stupid. Cloth-eared bint - This is two differant ones, cloth-eared = deaf or conveniently ignores conversation directed at one, bint is a woman - more in UK its generally an insulting term or may also be used to describe a sexually attractive woman, originates from Arabic meaning ‘daughter of’ as opposed to Bin(Osama Bin Laden) ‘son of’. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/5 "2001-08-03T17:43:30Z")
1. Knee biter ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/6 "2001-08-03T17:43:59Z")
1. Calling somebody a git is like calling them a shit. eg. You’re a little git, aren’t you? 2. pillick should be pillock and it means somebody is being stupid. eg. Don’t put it there, you pillock. 3. A bint is a not so nice term for a woman(bitch). I would presume it’s in reference to a woman who isn’t listening very carefully. eg How many times do I have to tell you, you cloth eared bint. Are you listening to Monty Phyton? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/7 "2001-08-03T17:47:09Z")
4 = child ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/8 "2001-08-03T17:49:01Z")
I always thought a git was a term for a pregnant cow. But I didn’t look at the link, so maybe I’m just making a prat out of myself. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/9 "2001-08-03T18:12:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimbo \* > Are you listening to Monty Phyton? Nah. Worked with some english blocks a little while back and never got around to asking what those things actually mean. They were good fun, that lot. ---
**Author:** ![b-side](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90ced4/32.png) [@b-side](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/b-side)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/10 "2001-08-03T19:24:56Z")
Piss off you tosser. ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/11 "2001-08-03T21:48:29Z")
It’s not the most definitive source, nor terribly relevant to current usage, but Partridge’s _A Dictionary of Historical Slang_ (Penguin, 1972, but deriving from his earlier works) knocks these off as follows: **bint** A girl or women; a prostitute - in which role the female was often called _saida_ [sah-eeda] _bint_, lit. **'a**"Good-day!" daughter’, among soldiers in Egypt: late C.19-20. Direct ex Arabic **git!** see GET! (Only occ. British.) **get!** Abbr. _get out_, go away! clear out! Orig. (1884) U.S., where usually _git!_ Anglacized ca 1900, but found in Australia ca 1890. Hume Nisbet in _The Bushranger’s Sweetheart_, 1892, ‘None of your damned impertinence. Get!’ **pillocks; pillocky.** ‘He’s talking pillocks’ (nonsense) and ‘Don’t talk so pillocky’ (so foolishly and nonsensically): Cockney: late C.19-20. Blend of PILL(s), testicle(s), and its synonym BALLOCKS. He also lists **pil(l)icock, pil(l)cock, pillock** as “the penis”, but, slightly bizarrely, also **pil(l)icock** as “the female pudend”. The entry for “bint” seems to correspond with current usage. “Git” is a bit more surprising; the Nisbet quote makes sense with the present meaning for “Git” replacing “Get”, but as a noun rather than a verb. With “pillock”, there’s again a shift: it now refers to the person rather what he says, though the examples would still make sense with “ballocks” (or rather “bollocks”) instead. In practice, “git” and “pillock” are more or less interchangable. > [@](#): > > Calling somebody a git is like calling them a shit. To me, “a shit” has connotations of betrayal. “You acted like a shit” means you acted morally wrong; “you acted like a git” means merely means your behaviour was stupid. ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/12 "2001-08-05T11:48:52Z")
If you want to hear how to use the term pillock to it’s most devastating and sarcastic effect, check any skit by Kenny Everett’s character Sid Snot. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/13 "2001-08-05T14:05:17Z")
In Scotland, at least, “bint” isn’t particularly insulting. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/14 "2001-08-05T14:19:47Z")
Nah but F.R.I.S.P is!!! Do not use this or injury will probably result. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/15 "2001-08-05T14:26:07Z")
FRISP? I was eating a packet of Frisps this morning. Have I been swallowing offensive potato snacks? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/16 "2001-08-05T15:06:20Z")
If you want a little more depth on the etymology and evolution of “git” try [Worldwidewords](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-git1.htm) , Michael Quinions wonderful word site. And, seeing that he’s UK based, his orientation leans that way. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/17 "2001-08-05T19:42:46Z")
**Crusoe** you have mail. I don’t think it is a good idea to post the meaning of the acronym FRISP in a public arena as it is extremely offensive, as you will see. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/18 "2001-08-05T19:52:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\ ***Crusoe** you have mail. > > I don’t think it is a good idea to post the meaning of the acronym FRISP in a public arena as it is extremely offensive, as you will see. \*\* Well, Hell’s Bells **casdave**. Now I’ve _gotta_ know what FRISP means. Gotta link or sumpin’? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/19 "2001-08-05T19:55:01Z")
…still waiting on the mail, **biggirl**. I’ve also changed my email addresses lately, so I’ll wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804/20 "2001-08-05T20:03:44Z")
Ah, found a link. [http://www.rnca.org.uk/humour/f.html](http://www.rnca.org.uk/humour/f.html) (warning: offensive slang contained) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-insults/74804.md?page=2)