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Re: USAGE: Dutch v or f (was: Grimm's Law)

From:daniel andreasson <danielandreasson@...>
Date:Thursday, April 18, 2002, 12:58
Jan van Steenbergen wrote:

> We have the same word in Dutch as well: "fok", a noun this time, > meaning - probably - the same sort of sail (I'm not much of a > sailorman, but it must definitely be something like that). > I'm also quite sure that the verb "fokken" has everything to do with > the famous English f-word; after all, they look the same, and besides, > they mean more or less the same, or rather: one is the direct result
of
> the other. > Whether or not the words "fok" and "fokken" are etymological kins, > that's just a matter of imagination. I have no opinion.
Hmm. This is what Merriam-Webster says: Main Entry: fuck Pronunciation: 'f&k Function: verb Etymology: akin to Dutch fokken to breed (cattle), Swedish dialect fokka to copulate Date: 1503 intransitive senses 1 usually obscene : COPULATE -- sometimes used in the present participle as a meaningless intensive 2 usually vulgar : MESS 3 -- used with with transitive senses 1 usually obscene : to engage in coitus with -- sometimes used interjectionally with an object (as a personal or reflexive pronoun) to express anger, contempt, or disgust 2 usually vulgar : to deal with unfairly or harshly : CHEAT, SCREW It was great fun that you could hear the word pronounced as well. I was a bit unsure... :D Doesn't say anything about etymology though. I'd forgotten about _fokka_. _Focka_ can mean 'fire, sack, dismiss' as well.
> BTW, how do you see the role of a "wedge" in breeding (let alone the > other meanings...) practically? :)))
Um. Do I really have to answer that? :) ||| daniel -- danielandreasson @ swipnet.se | http://home.swipnet.se/escape

Replies

Peter Collier <petercollier@...>
Tim May <butsuri@...>