20 Curse Words From The Past That Have Aged Incredibly Poorly
Language is constantly changing, and swear words are no exception. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that our ancestors from long ago had a rich vocabulary of curses and foul phrases that they could unleash on their enemies. Some of these might be worth bringing back, so we can put every smellfungus and Arfarfan’arf in their place. But others? Others are simply too filthy.
Churl
Ever felt like slinging around the term "trailer trash" but thought better of it at the last minute? Well, then this could be the one for you. In a time when Europe had clearly defined upper and lower classes, calling someone a "churl" was a major insult. And given that it means peasant, we can see why. Now, the noun may have disappeared, but we still use part of it in the word "churlish" today.
Knave
We're headed to the Renaissance's illicit underbelly for this slur, and things are about to get criminal. If you ever need to call out a liar, cheat, or con artist, then why not give "knave" a try? Its connotations weren't always so immoral, though. Originally the word would have been used to refer to a peasant or servant in medieval times. How things have changed!
Cozen
The verb "cozen" was reserved for only the sneakiest of scoundrels during the Renaissance. It likely originated from the phrase "to make a cousin of," which was a popular scam of the time: someone would claim to be a part of the family and then con the target out of their money. One moment you're sharing a cup of tea, and the next, you're penniless.
Scumber
Before the dawn of the poop emoji, there was no better way to lament on excrement than "scumber." Although the lighthearted phrase doesn't actually sound like a curse word, rest assured, it's pure filth. But be warned, if you want to try and bring this verb back, it only applies to dogs and foxes. So be careful where you scumber!
