Curse words we should bring back in modern times.
If you’re looking for a serious, informative post, this isn’t it! This article is for entertainment value only!
I was recently working on a manuscript where the storyline flashed back to approximately the 16th century.
Naturally, this meant my character’s vocabulary had to be adjusted to suit the timeframe. I certainly wasn’t about to start writing Shakespeare, but I did need to give my characters a 16th-century ‘flavour’ to the language they use.
The thing is, some of my characters tend to toss profanities about quite frequently.
So, I had to look into what swear words were being bandied about in the 16th century. What I discovered was so entertaining, that I decided to share what I learned with you!
Interesting Observation
First, I would like to share a shocking discovery.
Two very common profanities used today were also used during the 16th century; only not as swear words. Instead, they were used in a more literal sense.
1. The commonly used ‘F’ word was just another expression for having ‘coitus’ in the 16th century. (Big Bang fans out there will possibly have a giggle at the word ‘coitus’ too).
