A History of the C-Word

WARNING: This episode includes adult content and explicit language. As offensive terms go, you are entering a hard hat area.


It’s one of the most taboo words in the English dictionary. In Scotland, it can be a term of endearment, but in the US it's one of the worst offences out there, and it would more than likely get you fired if you said it to your boss at work. It starts with c, and ends in t and we're not talking about a coconut.


Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets for our 100th episode by our favourite Kathy Burke and linguist legend Professor Deborah Cameron to talk about the etymology and cultural meaning of the c-word.


Why is a word that simply means the vulva regarded as the most offensive word in the English language? Where does the word come from? And were medieval people really calling their children the c-bomb?


Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.


For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.


If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avsnitt(404)

History of Asexuality

History of Asexuality

We live in a hyper-sexualised world. But what if you don't take a sexual interest in anyone?Asexuality makes up roughly 1% of the population, and even though it will have been around as an identity si...

24 Okt 202338min

Hitler's Sex Life

Hitler's Sex Life

We all know how the song goes, the one about Hitler having one testicle.And whilst it's disarming to poke fun at someone so evil, there's an interesting and serious conversation to be had about how Hi...

20 Okt 202335min

Spectrophilia: The Ghost Fetish

Spectrophilia: The Ghost Fetish

If you happen to be a Spectrophiliac, then October must be a particularly exciting time for you.What is a spectrophiliac? Well, it's a fetish for ghosts (as well as mirrors), so being turned on by any...

17 Okt 202328min

The Black Death: the Rise of Women, Witches & the Peasant’s Revolt

The Black Death: the Rise of Women, Witches & the Peasant’s Revolt

There’s not much good to come out of a plague, especially a bubonic plague in the 14th century. A pandemic which definitely didn't involve zoom quizzes and a video montage of celebrities singing 'Imag...

13 Okt 202340min

The WW2 Witch Trial of Hellish Nell

The WW2 Witch Trial of Hellish Nell

What made a working class woman from Edinburgh become such a threat to British intelligence services during the Second World War, that they tried her as a witch?In today's episode, we're telling you t...

10 Okt 202337min

Age of Consent: Medieval Meaning, Victorian Scandals & Modern Relevance

Age of Consent: Medieval Meaning, Victorian Scandals & Modern Relevance

While the age of consent has fluctuated over time, it reveals some fascinating and enlightening things about how we view sexuality in society.Today's guest, Laura Lammasniemi, professor at Warwick Sch...

6 Okt 202341min

Sex: The Medieval Rules

Sex: The Medieval Rules

Given that the medieval period covers the best part of 1000 years, there's a fair amount of sexual myth and beliefs to get through.How kinky were people in those times? Was the chastity belt just a Vi...

3 Okt 202342min

Julius Caesar's Sex Life

Julius Caesar's Sex Life

"I came. I saw. I conquered".Perhaps the most famous Julius Caesar quote of all time. But after hearing all about his bedroom antics, it takes on a slightly...different meaning.From Cleopatra, to his ...

29 Sep 202337min

Populärt inom Historia

massmordarpodden
kod-katastrof
motiv
p3-historia
historiska-brott
olosta-mord
rss-historien-om
historiepodden-se
rss-seriemordarpodden
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
rss-brottsligt
rss-massmordarpodden
rss-historiska-brottslingar
krigshistoriepodden
militarhistoriepodden
rss-arkiv-stieg
palmemordet
nu-blir-det-historia
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
oppet-fall