When did people start using the f-word?
482731
The application of the word to human intercourse dates at least as far back as Proto-Germanic times, about 2500 years ago.  The form was *fukan "to have intercourse".  It was not vulgar originally.  Indeed, it started life as a euphemism for another word (perhaps lost in time).  The original meaning in Proto-Indo-European (about 6000 years ago) of *pug- was "to strike" (*pug- is the ancestor word for *fukan).
1037117
The origin of the word f**k is lost in the sands of time, I'm afraid, but most of the apocryphal stories about it (that it's an acronym for "fornication under consent of the King", or "for unlawful carnal knowledge" for instance) don't even seem to have a shred of truth.\n\nIn all likelihood, the word is descended from the German word "ficken", which means "to strike, or club".  When the Saxons invaded England and their language merged with the natives and became entwined in middle English, the word became "fucken" (no, I'm not kidding).\n\nSo, considering what a good, hard f**k is actually like (sorry to be crude, but think about any time you've seen a guy going hog wild in the sack and you'll get the point), you can see where people would pick up using the word as slang for the act, especially considering what an erect penis looks like... and from there it became the ever so infamous "f-word".\n\n=)
272270
The gents only, ladies forbidden is just an old wives tale, as the word wasn't even originally spelled golf.\n\nThe word "golf" is recorded as long ago as 1457, in the statutes of the Scottish Parliament, when the sport was banned because it interfered with archery practice. The word was also spelled "gowf", reflecting the way the Scots pronounced it. Some say the word derives from an Old Dutch word "kolf, kolven" meaning club, clubs.
618398
Check out the link below for an animation on the "F Word and it's many uses."\n\nhttp://www.ebaumsworld.com/flash/fwordflash.html\n\nIt's truly the most versatile word in the English language!
4979
The network doesn't appear to have gotten any special permission.  Mark Harmon used the S-word on the October 14, 1999 episode of "Chicago Hope".  Howard Stern was outraged at the time because the FCC had threatened him over use of the word.
19769
The long answer:\n\nGay was a term that was appropriated by homosexual people in the 1970's too mean homo.  They wanted a word that had positive connotations because they wanted to remove the stigma that was associated with being a homosexual. \n\nQueer was a word used by homophobic people to sander homosexuals.  It originally meant strange, odd, or out of place, but was taken and used to specifically attack homosexual individuals in the same way that the N-word was used to attack African Americans.  In the mid-late '90s queer was appropriated by gays who were looking to remove the stigma associated with the word, much the same way black people (and many other minorities) have appropriated the N-word, and use it in everyday speech to remove some of the power that is associated with it.\n\nThe idea is this.  If I use the word queer in my everyday life to describe myself, some bigoted straight white guy who tries to use the word to hurt me fails miserably.  If, however, it's a word that has a deep stigma, a word that only he is privileged enough to use when he's verbally attacking me, the word holds much more power, and the attack is far more potent.  If we minorities, whether we be gay, black, or whatever, decide to take those words back and own them ourselves, we take much of the power away from their previous "owners".\n\n\nThe short answer:\n\nThey're spelled differently.  I use them both interchangeably to describe myself if people ask...
393250
phew.... here ya go:\n\n"The Dictionary of Contemporary Slang" by Tony Thorne (1990, originally published by Bloomsbury Publishing). "cakehole, n. British. Mouth. A slang term which was extremely widespread (and considered by many to be vulgar) in the 1950s and 1960s. It survives in the argot of schoolchildren."\n\nIn other words, it came from the British.
437215
5\nMany people miss the F in the word "OF" because it sounds like a "V".
58457
they r just words. society puts taboos on certains ones. some words have more power than others, ppl react differently to them and should only be used in certain places.
45776
In what context was the word used?
968070
You know what.  You're right.  I mean, way back when, when the British used the acronym F.U.C.K. for rape victims, it wasn't a bad word and now it is.  And we do have so many crazy rules and regulations.  People should have common sense enough to at least follow the 10 rules God gave us.  Those are really the only rules we need to live by anyway.  Like thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, thou shall not commit adultery, etc., etc..... It's crazy and I do not know why we have so many rules to follow.  So, sorry I couldn't really answer it.
1037799
"Terms of profanity have historically been taboo words. Some words originally considered profane have become much less offensive with the increasing secularity of society, while others, primarily racial or ethnic epithets which can be considered part of hate speech, have become increasingly taboo."\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity#History\n\nCursing/swearing/using profane language is, in a small way, "crossing the border" into that place where we're not supposed to be.  It is a small, and yes most of the time childish, way of rebelling against the status-quo.\n\nUnfortunately many of the words uttered traditionally in cursing have now become so common place in conversation, TV, movies, popular music, that many people who utter/hear these terms have become "immune" to their senses of "taboo" any more.\n\nIn short... cursing is usually a small form of rebellion against societal morality which is becoming more the norm rather than the exception.\n\nI should add here that there are places in literature/dramatic arts/life where cursing is meaningful and effective.  I saw a movie years ago where a mother lost her child to a terrible disease.  There is a point in the movie where, soon after her child's death, the mother goes out into her yard and night and yells at God....  "Damm you!  Damm you!"  (and yes... I'm misspelling the curse word to make sure it passes yahoo's screener).   Cursing God is a big "taboo" in all major religions but the intensity of her feelings is brought out in her doing this.... her anger at God/the Universe and her deep love for her child. \n\nThere are times, when used selectively, when cursing has a deep impact in transmitting feelings/emotions.\n\nBill
346274
Fo fou fant fomeone fo frite f fara fith fll fetters ftarting fith fhe fetter f. fou fidnt fay fbout fhat. fkay, femme fhink fhat f fhould frite fbout. f f frying fo fake f fara fere. f feally font fnow fhat f f fyping. f fidnt fnow fhat f fould fype fll fullshits. Fere, ft;s flready f fara. fappy fow ?
19267
Apparently it was first used in the 1938 film, "Bringing Up Baby":\nBringing Up Baby (1938) was the first film to use the word gay in reference to homosexuality. In a scene where Cary Grant's clothes have been sent to the cleaners, he must wear a lady's feathery robe. When another character inquires about his clothes, he responds "Because I just went gay...all of a sudden!"
414674
Curse words date back to the early 17th century. It was said that Witches invented them. It was believed that when a witch put a spell (or a curse) on something, they would yell certain words. These words were thus believed to hold bad things and were not accepted. The history passed on for years and years, however, in the 1900's people started using the words as a means of pillory. The meaning of the words continued to evolve and are what we hear today.\n\n\n\nBy the way - that is a bunch of BS, but it is believeable!
528391
Although I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech I find it quite disturbing that people don't have a problem with using this word in front of anybody, at any time.\nIt negates any sign of intelligence that you would not find it in your vocabulary to communicate disgust, anger and other emotions without resorting to a word that literally means fornicate or sexual intercourse. Aren't our brains a little more evolved than that?\nIf you want to use it, you have the right, but other people have the right NOT to hear it everywhere!
59935
depends on the "polite company".  You can judge.\nIt really isn't a "bad" word, I have used it around my students many times.\nIt did start from oral sex, but has developed beyond that, much the same as the word "jerk" started from the word that means self gratification (****off) but has evolved past the vulgarity.