Historical Slang

A

Ars Amatoria

The Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love) is a series of three books written by the Roman poet Ovid around 2 CE that serves as an instructional guide on the art of seduction, relationships, and lovemaking. This ancient text covers everything from where to meet potential partners to maintaining long-term relationships, making it one of the earliest known comprehensive guides to dating and romance.

B

Bawdy

Bawdy refers to content or humor that is humorously indecent, sexually suggestive, or deals with sexual matters in a playful but crude way. While not necessarily explicit or pornographic, bawdy material often includes double entendres, risqué jokes, and cheeky references to sex and the human body.

C

Carnal Knowledge

Carnal knowledge refers to sexual intercourse or the act of having sexual relations with another person, historically used in legal and religious contexts as a euphemism for sexual activity. The term specifically implies physical, sexual contact between individuals and has traditionally been used in criminal law to describe unlawful sexual acts.

H

Harlot

A harlot is an archaic or literary term for a prostitute or sex worker. Historically, it was used to describe a woman who engaged in sexual activities in exchange for money or other forms of payment. The term has largely fallen out of use in modern contexts and is now considered outdated and potentially offensive.

S

Strumpet

"Strumpet" is an archaic and derogatory term historically used to describe a woman perceived as promiscuous or engaged in prostitution. It originated in the 15th century and was commonly used until the early 20th century. The term is now considered outdated and offensive, and its use is generally discouraged in modern contexts.

T

Trollop

A trollop is a derogatory term historically used to describe a woman perceived as sexually promiscuous or a sex worker. The word originated in the 17th century and has largely fallen out of common usage in modern times. It's important to note that this term is considered offensive and should not be used to describe any person.

W

Whoopee

"Whoopee" is a playful, vintage slang term for sexual intercourse or sexual activity in general. Originating in the 1920s, this euphemism gained popularity as a lighthearted way to refer to sex without using more explicit language. The term often implies a sense of fun, excitement, or mischief associated with sexual encounters.