# \-monger. Why just fish & whores? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278 "2014-01-08T15:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/41 "2014-01-09T10:03:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think that it’s just that the word survived for products that have existed since the word was common. Some things that people used to mong a lot, they don’t any more, so those mongers have fallen out of common use. This brings up memories of the humorous book _How To Be an Alien_ by George Mikes (pronounced “Mee-Kash”), a Hungarian who took refuge in the UK in the World War II era and ultimately became a British naturalised citizen. The book, written in his early UK years, purports to be a guide for people in the author’s position, to some to the oddities of British life – including the quirks of the English language. I recall the statement: “A fishmonger mongs fish. A warmonger mongs war. They both mong them.” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/42 "2014-01-09T10:20:16Z")
English as she is spoke. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/43 "2014-01-09T16:13:22Z")
We had a coster shop in town next to the railroad when they still used steam engines. I think it had something to do with boilers. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/44 "2014-01-10T03:14:29Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > ETA: I bet half of you don’t know what a coster is ::heads to dictionary:: I’ll let you know just as soon as he finishes jumping on his mother (on his mother)… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/45 "2014-01-10T03:16:07Z")
Don’t you mean 'alf of hus, anyway, **Leo**? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/46 "2014-01-10T04:23:15Z")
_Monger or munger_ was a word with no negative overtones until the 16th century. It was merely a merchant or purveyor of such since 900 AD or before. Then some smart asses got into the act. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278/47 "2014-01-10T05:04:02Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Followup Question: Why are they opposites? A fishmonger sells fish, a whoremonger spends money (buys) on whores. The proper joke here would’ve been - a fishmonger sells fish, a whoremonger buys fish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monger-why-just-fish-whores/678278.md?page=2)