# the orgin of the F\_WORD

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orgin-of-the-f_word/145350
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 28, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orgin-of-the-f_word/145350 "2002-12-28T11:40:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![deadliestformula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@deadliestformula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadliestformula)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orgin-of-the-f_word/145350/1 "2002-12-28T11:40:35Z")

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My sister came home with an interesting story about the F\_WORD. According to her it is not a curse word. Instead it is an acronym from the times when the king had to issue permission for all marriages (perhaps midevil times???) Anyway the story goes that it stands for Fornication Under Consent of the King. And that the king issued you a paper or embriodered authorization with that phrase on it when you were married. and everyone hung it on their doors or walls or whatever so they would not be in violation of the law. and we began using this acronymn to shorten the phrase way back in those ancient times.

Has anyone else heard of this?  
I think it is a load of bull.  
I am interested in your opinions and any other info about other curse words that made their way into usage and how they came about.

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### Author: ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orgin-of-the-f_word/145350/2 "2002-12-28T11:44:30Z")

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You are correct, the “acronym” story is [bogus](http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/fuck.htm). So is a similar “acronym” folk etymology for [shit](http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/shit.htm).

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### Author: ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orgin-of-the-f_word/145350/3 "2002-12-28T11:45:44Z")

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A [Straight Dope column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_268b.html) on the topic.