Fart

From Free net encyclopedia

Fart is an English word which, when used literally, refers to the bodily function of flatulence. The word is generally considered to be mildly offensive and unsuitable for formal settings by modern English speakers, though more conservative locales may consider the word to be vulgar. Fart can be used as a verb or noun, and occasionally as an interjection.

While the primary use of the word fart refers to flatulence, it has other meanings. The phrase to fart around refers to goofing off or wasting time; and an old fart is a somewhat derogatory term for a person who is old-fashioned or of advanced age.

1 Etymology
2 Usage history
- 2.1 Early usage
- 2.2 Modern usage
3 See also
4 External links

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Etymology

The word fart (in English) dates back to the Old English word feortan of Germanic and Proto Indo-European origin. It is widely speculated that the word is onomatopoeic in origin (as are many words for flatulence in other languages). Similar words in other languages include Furz in modern dialects of German, fjärt in Swedish, and fjert in Norwegian.

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Usage history

The word fart (or a variant form) has referred to the act of flatulence throughout the history of the English language.

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Early usage

A well known usage of fart in Middle English occurs in Chaucer's "Miller's Tale" (one of the Canterbury Tales). In the tale (which is told by a bawdy miller as a group of pilgrims travel to Canterbury), the character Nicholas hangs his buttocks out of a window and flatulates in the face of his rival Absolom, who is instead expecting a kiss. Absolom is humiliated by this gesture. Nicholas then attempts to repeat the prank, and Absolom then sears Nicholas's bum with a red-hot poker. In Middle English:

This Alison answered; "Who is there
That knocketh so? I warrant him a thief."
"Nay, nay," quoth he, "God wot, my sweete lefe,
I am thine Absolon, my own darling.
Of gold," quoth he, "I have thee brought a ring,
My mother gave it me, so God me save!
Full fine it is, and thereto well y-grave:
This will I give to thee, if thou me kiss."
Now Nicholas was risen up to piss,
And thought he would amenden all the jape;
He shoulde kiss his erse ere that he scape:
And up the window did he hastily,
And out his erse he put full privily
Over the buttock, to the haunche bone.
And therewith spake this clerk, this Absolon,
"Speak, sweete bird, I know not where thou art."
This Nicholas anon let fly a fart,
As great as it had been a thunder dent;
That with the stroke he was well nigh y-blent;
But he was ready with his iron hot,
And Nicholas amid the erse he smote.
Off went the skin an handbreadth all about.
The hote culter burned so his tout,
That for the smart he weened he would die;
As he were wood, for woe he gan to cry,

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Modern usage

By the early 20th century, the word fart had come to be considered rather vulgar in most English-speaking cultures. For a long time, the word was prohibited from the public airwaves in the United States. While not one of George Carlin's original seven dirty words, he noted in a later routine that the word fart (along with turd and twat), ought to be added to "the list" of words were not acceptable (for broadcast) in any context (as opposed to words such as ass or cock which have non-offensive meanings).

With the rise of cable television and changing social mores in general, the word fart is (in 2006) frequently heard in the broadcast media. It is also now found in such places as children's literature, such as the Walter the Farting Dog series of children's books. While still considered impolite in some social contexts, much of the stigma which surrounded the word has disappeared.

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