Antedatings for BBC List

[Jonathan Lighter]

Yes, we do have synonyms, but we have no allusively descriptive phrases of the sort Michael instances.

JL

Wilson Gray <wilson.gray at RCN.COM> wrote:
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On Jun 10, 2005, at 5:38 PM, Baker, John wrote:

>
>
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> Poster: "Baker, John"
> Subject: Re: FW: Antedatings for BBC List
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> In more formal contexts, especially in writing, I'd say that
> the major euphemism for condom historically has been "prophylactic,"
> but it has largely passed out of use in recent years.

In the days before The Pill, "prophylactic" was at least as common as
"rubber" among black males. I also occasionally heard "safe" used with
the meaning "condom." "Trojan" and "Ramses" were the most popular -
well, the most-often mentioned in locker-room stories, at least -
brands, but neither name was generalized.

-Wilson Gray

>
> I'm under the impression that other terms have not really
> caught on. In the song Little Red Corvette, Prince refers to "horses
> - Trojans, some of them used." Some people do use Trojans as a
> generic term for condoms, but I've never heard anyone else refer to
> them as horses. Sometimes they are called gloves, but that seems to
> be mainly so people can say "no glove no love." Even "rubbers," the
> once ubiquitous term, seems to be less prevalent now as people just
> calmly say "condoms."
>
> Did barbers really offer "something for the weekend," or was
> it just a cultural cliché that they did so?
>
> John Baker
>

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