Remember when the term f@ggot was used to describe...?

Question

...a bundle of wood thrown onto a fire?

How did the meaning change?

Answer 1

The origins of the word in this sense are rather obscure.

It is often claimed that the derivation is associated directly with ****** meaning "bundle of sticks for burning", since homosexuals were supposedly burnt at the stake in medieval England. Alternatively, the Bible is claimed to refer to homosexuals stoking the fires of hell (Sodom and Gomorrah). Admittedly the practice was not unknown elsewhere in Christian Europe, and burning was used in Britain for heretics and witches, but this ended centuries before the word ****** became associated with gay people.

More significantly, the word has been used since the late sixteenth century to mean "old or unpleasant woman". Female terms are often used with reference to homosexual or effeminate men (cf. nancy, sissy, queen) and this seems the most likely derivation.

The Yiddish word faygele, lit. "little bird", is claimed by some to either be an origin or an influence on its usage, and it is unlikely this would be true. It is more likely a simple coincidence, as faygele most likely comes from German Vögelein meaning "little bird" as well. If the word has or has had a usage in the past in Yiddish-speaking areas, referring to homosexual or effeminate men, it is likely that it was because of the feminine connotations of "bird".

Answer 2

Yes.
And it's a damn shame that our world's hatred has molded this into a deragtory term which non ecan use without offending.
Hatred of the homosexual race...along with the term "gay"...this term cannot be used any longer. It's pretty sad that we have come to this.
But I guess there isn't a group of people in the world now who can't be hated by someone somewhere for some stupid thing.
We all hate each other!! What a great world to live in!!

Answer 3

I know they call a fa ggot a cigarette in England, but I didn't hear about the bundel of wood,


I don't know how it got changed, some on down along the line probably incorperated wood, and wood in your pants.


that wul;d be my best guess, but either way it shows the mentality of homophobes. somewhere below a newborn.

Answer 4

Ive never heard of a bundle of wood being called a ****** but I have heard that a fag use to be a cigarette. Like do you have a fag? Or give me a fag. Or light one of those fags up. Maybe someone found a small gay person and it reminded them of a little bundle of wood and so they said toss that fag into the ******.

Answer 5

I thought it was more meaning just a twig, a small stick? Certainly could be used for fire.

Maybe someone decided that "hey, throw another ****** on the fire" would be funny to say about a gay guy?

Answer 6

Wood=Penis
Fire=Asshole

Answer 7

Whoa you must be over 126 years old to remember that.

Wood being shoved into a hot place....... I think I'm starting to see something not so pretty here.

Next question?

Answer 8

The same way the term gay changed. Not really sure of the reason. The dictionary can't be changed as far as I knew.

Answer 9

Much like when ***** was used to describe a female dog

Answer 10

I always thought it was the Brittish slang for a cigarette.