where do people come up with these words?

Question

words like balls and nuts, and other like that...just asking
also, when do words like curses become curses?

another word for an example is dick...

Answer 1

It's actually a very interesting topic: what makes words "bad"? It really just is the way society views them. What is the etymology for words? Well, for your examples it appears pretty obvious, as it is based on the shape. I do have to agree with an earlier answerer: the only true curse words are the ones that use God's name in vain.

Answer 2

I can't tell you the origin of all the slang words we use for body parts. Some are based on general shape, position, etc., some words are meant to de-value, some are merely an attempt to make an uncomfortable word more comfortable.

Your comment about curses reminded me of my Grandfather. Always a perfect gentleman, he never used curse words, but when he was angry about something, he would say, "Good NIGHT!" in such a way that there was no doubt he was cursing.

Answer 3

Okay. Having been a researcher interested in naughty words for quite some time I have a few answers for you. I can recall being a rather immature young woman and talking naughty with my guy friends and using "thing" and "it" as euphemisms for genitalia. When I started working on my PhD., I found the Oxford English Dictionary enthralling and so looked up these terms. It seems that these words have been used that way for at least 600 years and lots of other ones have been too. If you'd really like to know, I suggest you look 'em up in the OED. Otherwise, know that our own crassness is only equalled by our ancestors.

Answer 4

I can't tell you where slang words originate, but as to curses: Words become curses when they are used to hurt others. That old childhood rhyme "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me," can't be less true. Words can hurt more than physical injuries.

Answer 5

It seems like words for body functions and body parts have become heavily substituted by "slang," and the slang is intended with disrespect. I think it is the disrespect and intent to profane something that makes the word "bad." Like the word "God" is a good word, but if you say it with the intent to profane it, it becomes bad. Also, "making love" is a good thing, but you would say "f..." as a way of profaning it, so it becomes bad. That's what I think, anyhow.

Answer 6

ver·nac·u·lar (vər-năk'yə-lər)
n.
The standard native language of a country or locality.

The everyday language spoken by a people as distinguished from the literary language. See synonyms at dialect.
A variety of such everyday language specific to a social group or region: the vernaculars of New York City.
The idiom of a particular trade or profession: in the legal vernacular.
An idiomatic word, phrase, or expression.
The common, nonscientific name of a plant or animal.

Answer 7

Words are arbitrary, it's the intent behind them that either make it a curse or not.

Answer 8

1928 DH Lawrence, Lady Chatterley "She gathered his balls in her hands.

That seems to be the first written instance of this. Also included in this sense (testicles) is the meaning that something is nonsense. As in:
1889: Barrere & Leland: "To make a balls of" - to make a mistake.

Answer 9

I think there is only one curse word that is really bad and that is where we call God's name in vain.

Answer 10

The turns of the wheel are counted as the turn goes around.