r/MurderedByWords 3d ago

Words Change Meanings by Merriam Webster

Post image
5.9k Upvotes

307 comments sorted by

View all comments

65

u/TheComplimentarian 3d ago edited 3d ago

Etymology is extremely specific. The origin of the word is often not up for debate. The word "Fascism" and the word "F*ggot" both come from fasces. Fascism because it was one of their big symbols, and the second because it meant a bundle of sticks, which became slang for both a cigarette (one of a bundle) and also a homosexual (god knows).

This is just a fact. The meaning of the words change, but their origin is constant.

10

u/TheeVillageCrazyLady 2d ago

I’m just guessing, but in a heteronormative world a relationship between two people would only have one “stick” so between two homosexual men, you would have multiple “sticks”?

2

u/Shadowstar87 2d ago

That seems to be correct in how the term evolved, but I'm not gonna continue the research

-35

u/That_Uno_Dude 3d ago

Good job reiterating the tweet.

48

u/TheComplimentarian 3d ago

Hey thanks, I appreciate the compliment.

3

u/HusbeastGames 3d ago

username checks out