profanity vs. obscenity

[Joel S. Berson]

At 8/18/2011 04:50 AM, victor steinbok wrote:
>I'm also not sure where "profanity" would fit
>vis-a-vis "obscenity".

My experience with the Puritans says (IIRC) that they
distinguished.  Although the OED doesn't - see "profanity": "... a
profane or obscene act or word".  (It doesn't include "profane" under
"obscenity".)  And under "obscenity" there is a quotation that does
distinguish:

1768    H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 243   Whenever he hear'd
any Profaneness or Obscenity in the Streets, he would stop to reprove
and expostulate with the Offender.

I wouldn't be surprised to find the distinction defined in British
(or colonial) law or commentary.  Blackstone, anyone?

Joel

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