Again, other than cats, what does the world refer to? If it only means wimp, why does the etymology related to women’s genitals not matter?
6 Likes
Nah, its yours. The change in word meanings over time isn’t arbitrary.
Why that word? Of all the words that could mean “weak,” why that one? What is it about “weakness” that implies female genitalia in the vernacular? Why is this association made here?
While we’re at it, it might be worthwhile to examine why we use the word “pussy” to mean “vagina” anyway - of all the words that could mean vagina, why that one? What is it about cats that implies femaleness? Why is that association made?
Why can’t white people use a word that has an original meaning of “small, meager, and petty” anymore?
Language is an awesome barometer of cultural attitudes because of it’s flexibility. Entymology is a treasure trove of cultural attitudes and meanings (I recently plumbed into the word “Calf” to figure out why the same word means a baby cow and also the back of your leg, for instance - why that association happened).
But linguistic evolution happens because people make choices. Why would they choose to associate female genitalia with weakness, do ya think?
3 Likes
Note the breadth of the meanings.
1 Like
It doesn’t only mean wimp. It has several connotations. As you said earlier, context matters. In this context, I believe the lady supporter meant ‘wimp’. Perhaps Trump parsed it differently, but the original intent was not what others seem to believe it was.
1 Like
They don’t. Its root is in ‘pussycat’.
Simple.
Nobody is disagreeing with that. The question is, why does it mean wimp? Where does that meaning derive from?
1 Like
Why would the same word mean both “cat”, “vagina,” and “wimp?” What is wimpy about cats or vaginas? What is vaginal about wimps and cats? What is feline about vaginas and wimps?
The association isn’t accidental.
3 Likes
Oh, if only it were so “simple”.
From: Oxford Online DIctionary
North American informal A weak, cowardly, or effeminate man.
Example sentences
We spend more time calling each other pussies and cowards than he does now.But the bottom line is that he’s one of the biggest pussies that ever lived.Why, that’s because you drink like a pussy, Tortoise!
1 Like
Because it comes from pussycat. Make a sudden short, sharp move or noise and a cat will bolt.
It’s a shorter form of scaredy-cat.
1 Like
Hence, "scaredy cat.’
But fear is not the same as weakness. Hence, “fighting like a cornered cat.”
Cats are believed to be skittish, linguistically-speaking, but they are not known to be weak or wimpy.
2 Likes
Cat, or rat?
Wouldn’t pretty much any creature fight if the fight-or-flight response choice is constrained that way?
1 Like
Cats would rather run than fight, unless cornered.
Sounds more like we’re getting into the nature of cats rather than the etymology of ‘pussy’.
Why is a person called a dog as a slur?
Why is a person called a rat as a slur?
Slurs don’t have to have an accurate basis of the nature of the animal being used as a slur.
Dogs are great. So are rats.
Still a slur.
ETA
Also ‘chicken’, ‘pig’, ‘donkey’.
In fact, here’s a whole list of animal slurs. Study them well, I’ll be testing you on them next week.
1 Like
Is the plural of scrutum scrota? As in “We had a debate the other night with the Republican scrota running for president” ?
5 Likes
Stahhhp, in today’s American context (the context that, you know, matters here), it’s not about cats!
While discussing Donald Trump’s “pussy” comments at a New Hampshire rally, CNN host Carol Costello on Tuesday danced around the word without actually saying it on air.
“And what about what Donald Trump said? You know that word, that P-word that no one can say on television but you often hear in porno flicks,” she said on CNN’s “Newsroom.”
1 Like
Scrotii?
Scrotes.
3 Likes
It’s difficult to argue with an entrenched ideology.
1 Like
I prefer to argue in person. A lot of nuance is lost online.
1 Like
I was also thinking “scrotese,” but that conjours up a confusing image.
