fouter, n. (antedating)

[Janis Vizier Nihart]

Growing up in south Louisiana I used (still do)several forms of the French
verb Foutre...my parents used it and everyone else did. Also used it as an
adjective.  We always thought it meant "doomed" .  But I can see how it can
mean the word "f_cked" . "Fouter de monde "meant someone who made sport of
others.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 7:03 PM
Subject: fouter, n. (antedating)


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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
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> Subject:      fouter, n. (antedating)
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>
> OED's primary ex., from 1794, is spelled "f-t-r" because the word was so
> indecent.
>
> Likewise in an earlier appearance:
>
> 1787 _The Adventures of Jonathan Corncob_ (London: ptd. for the author)
> 87:
> Why G-- strike me dead if I would not very naturally
> bayonet every f--t-r of you.
>
> Cf., of course, "fucker," not attested till a century later.
>
> JL
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
>
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