The Lover's Tongue: A Merry Romp Through the Language of Love and SexThis delightful book includes over 100 mini-essays explaining the origins and historical development of words in our language that pertain to love and sex. Do you know, for example, what a 78 is? Here's a hint: like the old 78 rpm records, the term refers to a man who is ... well, on the fast side! Diligently researched, The Lover's Tongue is written in a light-hearted style. A dictionary of a different kind, this book is the perfect gift for that special someone, or for the connoisseur of language and history in your life |
Contents
| 11 | |
| 21 | |
| 27 | |
The Grammar of Glamour Words to Describe Physical Attractiveness or Lack Thereof | 35 |
Ardor Veneris Words of Love and Desire | 43 |
My Swete Hurle Bawsy Terms of Endearment | 49 |
Studs Jades and Bitches Terms of Objectification | 55 |
The Bawdy Body Words for Body Parts Shared by Men and Women | 67 |
Organ Solo Masturbation Words | 155 |
Aural Sex Words for Wooing and Seducing | 159 |
Lip Smacking Words for Kissing and Fondling | 165 |
The Ins and Outs of the InandOut Copulation Words | 173 |
Go Down Moses Oral Sex Words | 189 |
Bringing up the Rear Anal Sex Words | 193 |
Knowing Dorothy Sexual Orientation Words | 197 |
Strumpets Whores Cheaters and Bastards Wanton Words | 209 |
The Long and the Short of It Words for the Penis and its Attendant Parts | 91 |
Down in the Valley Words for the Vagina the Clitoris et alia | 131 |
Two of a Kind Words for Breasts | 149 |
Love Comes in Spurts Or the Exciting Climax in which Orgasm Words are Briefly Considered | 227 |
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Common terms and phrases
adjective adopted anal sex anus arse bawdy became breasts buttocks called century to denote cock copulation cunnilingus cunt dates back denote sexual denote the penis developed Dictionary earlier early fifteenth century Early Modern English early seventeenth century early twentieth century emerged employed euphemism evolved example fact fellatio female flesh fourteenth century Francis Grose French fuck further back genitals Germanic Greek Grose homosexual human hypocorism idiom implies Indo-European source inspired invented kind kiss known language late eighteenth century late nineteenth century late sixteenth century Latin word literally means male masturbation meant metaphor mid nineteenth century mid sixteenth century Middle English naked notion Old English orgasm originally denoted pejorative penis phrase poem prostitute pudendum referred scrotum sexual intercourse Shakespeare signify sixteenth century slang names strumpet synonym teenth century terms of endearment terms of objectification testicles thing thirteenth century tongue usage vagina verb wife woman women words denoting
Popular passages
Page 16 - For, though the origin of most of our words is forgotten, each word was at first a stroke of genius, and obtained currency, because for the moment it symbolized the world to the first speaker and to the hearer. The etymologist finds the deadest word to have been once a brilliant picture. Language is fossil poetry.