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Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Best of the Web/Online Books Page: Flatulent Etymology
The Online Books Page once again proves its worth by giving us instant access to one of the oldest know occurrences of a certain English slang word, proving that life ca. 1600 was not so far removed from our own day. See if you can spot it:
Title: The Alchemist
Author: Ben Jonson
Excerpt (Source):
Title: The Alchemist
Author: Ben Jonson
Excerpt (Source):
- BEN JONSON'S PLAYS
THE ALCHEMIST
BY
BEN JONSON.
[...]
ACT 1. SCENE 1.1.
A ROOM IN LOVEWIT'S HOUSE.
ENTER FACE, IN A CAPTAIN'S UNIFORM, WITH HIS SWORD DRAWN, AND SUBTLE WITH A VIAL, QUARRELLING, AND FOLLOWED BY DOL COMMON.
FACE. Believe 't, I will.
SUB. Thy worst. I fart at thee.
DOL. Have you your wits? why, gentlemen! for love --
FACE. Sirrah, I'll strip you --
SUB. What to do? lick figs
Out at my --
FACE. Rogue, rogue! -- out of all your sleights.
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