LL-L "Etymology" 2007.07.31 (03) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L  -  30 July 2007 - Volume 03

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From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2007.07.31 (01) [A/E]

> From: Mark Dreyer <mrdreyer at lantic.net>
> Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2007.07.30 (01) [E]
>
> Dear Heather:
>
> Subject: LL-L "Etymology"]
>
> > True, sod is a cut of earth with the grass binding it. Even so, I am
> wary of euphemism, but folk etymology if nothing else hath it that the
> term 'sod' in that application is a dainty abbreviation of the word
> 'sodomite'. Uttered in somilar spirit: Poor old  bugger, even though
> he had never been to Bulgeria, or "that way inclined": Poor old
> bastard, even though both the bloke's parents were married in church -
> to each other.

Remember that the word "sod" is also used as a verb, eg, "Sod 'em!",
"Sod that!", "Sod this for a lark!" and so on.

It might be that this is short for "sodomise", but I would look around
for other explanations first. The idea that it's a truncation would
suggest that these phrases started out as "Sodomise them!" and I haven't
come across any such examples.

In British usage, "bugger" and "sod" have lost whatever sexual
connotations they might have had in everyday swearing, and are very
mild, humorous terms unless used with some sort of tonality to indicate
otherwise.

What about the north of England usage "beggar" as in "You silly beggar"
etc? Could "bugger" have evolved from this or was it the other way
round?

Sandy Fleming
http://scotstext.org/

•

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