Sophie Wedd
English 101-30
Prof. Heshimu
09.29.09
The History and Current Connotations of the Word Pussy
The word pussy does not have a definitive, known origin. The word is comparable however, to the Old English word pusa which translates to bag, or the Old Saxon word pûse meaning vulva, or even the Old Norse word pûss meaning pocket. The French word of medieval times; ‘pucelle,’ refers to a young, virgin girl.
The word did not acquire a sexual nuance however, until the 19th century, before which (post 6th century) it simply referred to women in general. The term is now used as a vulgar and distasteful term for the female genitalia.
Another common, modern use of the word is to imply that someone is weak or cowardly. This quite possibly comes from the word pusillanimous, which means lacking in courage or willpower. When used in this way, the term is often directed at a man who is considered effeminate, insufficient or even homosexual. Being ‘pussy-whipped’ in modern slang is when a man is dominated by a woman. This of course is a negative term, since it is so recent that women have begun to climb the ladder of society and must now be considered equal to men. The male mentality of being in control is still very prevalent for the most part.
The other meaning, which comes to mind, is simply used in reference to a cat. More generally, it was often used to describe anything with cat-like softness and fuzziness. Just as cats walk silently and delicately, we ‘pussyfoot’ around certain situations when trying to go unnoticed. This again suggests cowardliness.
The word pussy, when used in a sexually derogatory way towards a woman, women as a whole or in a vulgar manner to describe a woman’s genitalia or its uses and qualities, is just one of many slang words like it. Some such words include cunt, poontang, and twat, which have somehow become a large part of casual slang, and which hardly seem grotesque or bizarre in our youth’s use of language.