Welcome back! Last week we talked about the benefits of watermelon. If you missed this blog and would like to catch up, click HERE.
While this is a wellness blog, every once in a while I like to throw in something that is just for fun. This week is that week.
I’m often made fun of for my choice of words. I generally (in public) don’t like to use words that might offend anyone, so cursing is off the table unless I know you really, really well. What I’ve done my entire life, was “fill in the blanks”. So instead of saying something potentially offensive, I’ll say, “What in the stars and garters is actually going on here?!”.
It occurred to me this week that I have no idea where my substitute curse words originated. That sent me down a rabbit hole, of which I will now gladly give you a personal tour.
1. Son of a Gun
While there are several versions, some of which say a disparaging word about women, I would like to present to you my favorite. The most commonly accepted version is that the British Navy used to allow women to live on naval ships, and any child born on board who had uncertain paternity would be listed in the ship’s log as “son of a gun”. This is an attestable fact as, although the Royal Navy had rules against it, they did turn a blind eye to women (wives or prostitutes) joining sailors on voyages, so this version has plausibility on its side.
The sources for the point of view that “Son of a gun” is “son of a military man” are:
– Jon Badcock’s, Slang: A Dictionary of the Turf, 1823:
[son of a gun means] ‘a soldier’s bastard’.
– The Sailor’s Word-Book: an alphabetical digest of nautical terms, William Henry Smyth, 1867:
[a son of a gun is] “An epithet conveying contempt in a slight degree, and originally applied to boys born afloat, when women were permitted to accompany their husbands at sea; one admiral declared he literally was thus cradled, under the breast of a gun-carriage”.
The first known printed example of “son of a gun” in print is The British Apollo No. 43, 1708:
“You’r a Son of a Gun”.
That source doesn’t mention the military and all the explanations that link “son of a gun” to the military come 150 years or more later. However, Smyth was himself a Royal Navy admiral and in a better position than most to know what went on aboard naval ships. Whether or not the military/naval version is the origin it is clear that, in 1823 at least, the term was used with that meaning.
2. Dadgummit
Dadgummit, dagnabbit, or goldarnit, these alternate-swear words are simply ways your grandparents got around breaking any biblical commandments against “taking the Lord’s name in vain” outright. Replace the first part with “God” and the second part with “damn it,” and you get the picture easily enough.
The origin of “dadgummit” is thought to be from the hit television show “The Real McCoys,” which starred Walter Brennan as Grandpa Amos, for whom “dadgummit” became his epic, country-boy, redneck catchphrase. “A word invented by a Hollywood scriptwriter and uttered by Walter Brennan as he portrayed Gran’pa Amos McCoy on the sitcom ‘The Real McCoys‘.“
3. H-E-double-tooth-picks
Children even today think that they are getting away with swearing with this phrase, but we’re all bright enough to know that this is just another way to say hell without saying it. No one knows who came up with this euphemism first.
4. Sam Hill
Ahhhh, Sam Hill. I love this saying. I used it all the time when my kids were little. “What in the SAM HILL did you two just get into?” and “What in the Sam Hill will I do now…”. It just really works for all types of scenarios, doesn’t it?
You’ll be happy to know that this does have an origin. Sam Hill was a Michigan surveyor in the 1800s who “allegedly used such foul language that his name became a euphemism for swear words”.
5. Tarnation
The word “tarnation,” which dates back to the 18th century, comes from “darnation” which is derived from “damnation.” It’s also associated with another “curse word, tarnal,” which is a form of “eternal.” As the Word Detective, put it, “To speak of ‘the Eternal’ at that time was often to invoke a religious context (God, Heaven, etc.), and thus to label something or someone ‘eternal’ in a disparaging sense (‘You eternal villain!’) was considered a mild oath.”
Wow. That’s deep. Until this week, I only knew it as something I said when confused. “What in the tarnation just happened in here…it looks like a cyclone hit your bedroom!”.
6. Oh My Stars and Garters
I’m known for this one around my circle of friends. It’s my go-to exclamation when I’m happy, excited, or bewildered by stupidity.
The saying Oh my stars and garters is an exclamation that people use as a lighthearted way to say Oh my goodness, oh my gosh, etc. It can express either a positive or negative surprise.
Most people think of a garter as an article of clothing that people wear to hold up their stockings or socks. However, the garter is also the name of a badge worn by members of the Order of the Garter.
This type of garter is the highest award that a king or queen of England can give a knight. Other royal awards are in the shape of a star. Therefore, stars and garters refer to royal honors and awards.
The Order of the Garter began in the year 1311, in England. Over time, people used stars and garters to refer to royal medals in general, and then to any high honors. By the 1800s, people had begun using it as we know it today.
7. You’re Acting Like The South End Of a Northbound Mule
According to Center Post Dispatch, There is an old Southern saying about being hungry enough to eat the south end of a northbound mule. And if you still do not know which end that is, it’s the one where the hay comes out. The old cowboys used to remark about staring at the south end of northbound cattle as they herded them North to market. And it was a bad thing in those days as that meant you were riding “drag” (not to be confused with RuPaul) and were in the dirt and grime behind the main herd.
If we combine this saying with the idea of being “as stubborn as a mule”, you can see where the two ideas meet and marry.
8. Egads!
Egads was first recorded in 1665–75 as a euphemistic alteration of oh God!
9. Aww, Shucks…
This was used as an expression of indifference or rejection of some suggestion or remark, 1847, from shuck (n.) in the secondary sense “something valueless” (i.e. not worth shucks, attested in a separate source from 1847).
Normally, this is used when someone is given a compliment, but now that I know the origin, that response doesn’t seem very respectful, now does it? A compliment is never worthless. Maybe just a “thank you” would be a better response in the future…
10. Darn It
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary,
Darn, a tame curse word, 1781, American English euphemism, a minced form of damn said to have originated in New England when swearing was a punishable offense; if so, its spread probably was influenced by ‘tarnal, short for Eternal, as in By the Eternal (God), a favorite exclamation of Andrew Jackson, among others (see tarnation). Mark Twain (who spells it dern) writes “This imprecation is a favorite one out in the ranching districts, and is generally used in the society of ladies, where a mild firm of expressionomy may be indulged in” (San Francisco, 1865). Related: darned (as a past-participle adjective, 1806); darndest (superlative, 1844), darnation (noun of action, 1798). Also from 1781.
50 Ways To Leave Your Swear Words
The Tennessean leaves us with 50 alternate words to use in place of curse words…I hope you can find a favorite or two to use!
- Balderdash!
- William Shatner!
- Corn Nuts!
- Son of a monkey!
- Barnacles!
- Holy cow!
- Poo on a stick!
- Sugar!
- Judas Priest!
- Sufferin’ succotash!
- Oh, snap!
- Phooey!
- Great Scott!
- Bullspit!
- Leapin’ lizards!
- Cheese and crackers!
- Frack!
- Crappity!
- Shitake mushrooms!
- Fraggle Rock!
- Cowabunga!
- Shut the front door!
- Gee willikers!
- Mother of pearl!
- Son of a gun!
- Egad!
- Tartar sauce!
- Gadzooks!
- Barbra Streisand!
- Schnikes!
- Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!
- Mother fathers!
- Crikey!
- Peas and rice!
- Jeepers!
- Blimey!
- Galloping gremlins!
- Oh, ship!
- Zoinks!
- Good night!
- Fart knocker!
- Malarkey!
- Merlin’s beard!
- Holy guacamole!
- Oh, coconuts!
- H-E-double hockey sticks!
- Drat!
- Ay, caramba!
- What the cuss?
- What the fluff?
+++++++++++++
As always, this blog is not a replacement for sound medical advice. I am not a doctor. Please make an appointment to see your healthcare provider and put a good plan in place that works for you and the needs of your body.
That’s all I have for you this week, dear reader. I’ll see you back here next Wednesday to share another cup of coffee. Until then, be good to yourself and each other.
Mind, Body, Spirit…Osteopathic Doctors treat the whole person, not just the ailment. Is your PCP a DO? Would you like to learn more about Osteopathic Physicians? Click HERE!