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Discussion Groups / British English / February 2005Beaver.
The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called "Beavers". The history of the term is at <http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/beavers/index-pr.htm> It was variously introduced 1966 -1982. Does this suggest that the obscene slang use of "beaver" wasn't in common use then? Or were those involved a little naive? Does it cause any embarrassment? <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=beaver> suggests that the slang use is actually British in origin and dates back to 1927. Has it been in constant use since then or has it been re-imported? I don't remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American novel.  SignaturePhil C. On Wednesday, in article <akh101ldkqm8eso808glisupm19n4fi0uv@4ax.com> > The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called > "Beavers". The history of the term is at > <http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/beavers/index-pr.htm> > It was variously introduced 1966 -1982. Does this suggest that the > obscene slang use of "beaver" wasn't in common use then? Or were those > involved a little naive? Does it cause any embarrassment? I don't think that meaning was in common circulation in the UK, although ISTR magazines like Playboy (and authors such as Mickey Spillane) mentioning the word in a sexual context. But these were trans-Atlantic usages, with little relevance to English. > <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=beaver> suggests that the > slang use is actually British in origin and dates back to 1927. Has it > been in constant use since then or has it been re-imported? I don't > remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American > novel. "Beaver!" was in common use, shouted by youths at bearded men in pre-WWII years (I'm unsure of the actual date range: I recall my grandmother mentioning that uncouth youths would have such temerity to pass personal remarks upon a stranger; it would presumably have been after it became less common for men to be bearded, so perhaps the 1930s). SFAICS, its use for the pudenda only gained wider circulation, in the UK, with the film "Naked Gun 2-1/2" (if that is the right one). SignatureBrian {Hamilton Kelly} bhk@dsl.co.uk "Je n'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce que je n'ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte." Blaise Pascal, /Lettres Provinciales/, 1657 > The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called > "Beavers". The history of the term is at [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > remember hearing it as a child and first came across it in an American > novel. Well, it couldn't have had widespread currency in serious usage in the U.S. in the 1950s, or we wouldn't have had the popular sitcom "Leave It to Beaver." You couldn't even say "pregnant" on the air. >> The most junior section of the Scout movement is evidently called >> "Beavers". The history of the term is at [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >in the 1950s, or we wouldn't have had the popular sitcom "Leave It to >Beaver." You couldn't even say "pregnant" on the air. I'm pretty sure I first came across it in Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions (1973). The central character is a science fiction writer who is reduced to publishing in porno mags. Hence the immortal hook "Wide open beavers inside!" I'd assumed it was a common American term. SignaturePhil C. |
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