The Origins Of The F*** Word?

General Questions
#1

I heard a story recently that the origins of American Englishes worst curse word came from the Medieval Times when literacy was low. I was told that the F word acronym for something, which i cannot remember.

Is any of this true, or just a good story to appease the masses?
Thanks

#2

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

#3

a) No, it’s not based on an acronym.

b) It’s a basic Anglo-Saxon word meaning, “to have sex with”. When the Normans invaded a lot of everyday A/S words were replaced by Latinate terms, eg fuck–>copulate

c) This has been discussed 18 millions times. Use the Search, please. It’s in the upper right hand corner.

–John

#4

What Yue Han said. And what Cecil said in Attrayant’s link. Words that predate the 20th century are almost never acronyms. For the definitive work on fuck, check out [url=“http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375706348/o/qid=984778029/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/107-2869591-0925333”]The F-Word** by Jesse Sheidlower.

#5

Oops. Some mod may want to fix that post.

Here’s the correct link: The F-Word by Jesse Sheidlower.

#6

I remember it being an acronym for Fornication Under Consent of the King. I believe this was used in Spain some time ago. Apparently, it meant that certain people had to ask permission to fornicate for reasons unbeknownst to me.

#7

Llardball, please note that your acronym was addressed by Cecil in the link provided by Attrayant.

It is still a false etymology:

-we know where the word came from (a Germanic word meaning thrust or strike) and
-acronyms tend to be a rather recent phenomenon in English.

I am curious as to the origin of the story that the acronym you heard was Spanish in origin. As nearly as I can work it out, had the phrase started in Spanish, the acronym would have been CSCR.

#8

The OP said F***. Lets see, what word could it be? fork, from, ?