The level one uses the F-word, well, it still comes down to education and etiquette. Without either, the F-word is more abundant in a person's language, and, becomes a beacon, which flashes a lack of learning. I thought it was about time for me to get the correct information. So, here are some things I located. A) From: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-pluck-yew.htm Jesse Sheidlower, author of "The F-Word" (Random House: 1999), says the "totally ludicrous" tale erroneously conflates the etymology of the word f**k with an older bit of folklore, itself questionable, purporting to trace the origin of the European "two-finger salute" (roughly analagous to "flipping the bird" in America) back to the taunts of British archers against the French during the Hundred Years' War. Etymologists say f**k found its way into the English language from Dutch or Low German during the 14th century and made its first written appearance around 1500. The word pluck, on the other hand, is of Latin derivation and there is no known linguistic connection between the two English words. It's doubtful the expression "Pluck yew" was ever uttered before 1996, when this apocryphal story first went into circulation online. The middle-finger gesture, which has apparently had phallic connotations in every culture in which it has been used, is much older. We know it dates back to ancient Greece, at least, where it was referenced in "The Clouds," a play written by Aristophanes in 423 B.C. It was also well known to the Romans, who referred to it variously as digitus infamis ("infamous finger") and digitus impudicus ("indecent finger"). In all likelihood its origins were prehistoric. Here's another excellent location to check the word out (when pasting the link put the letters where the ** are): http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/f**k.asp#refs B)From: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-f-word.htm Origin of the F-Word Netlore Archive: In which we are told -- with a straight face -- that the word 'f**k' originated as the acronym of 'Fornication Under Consent of the King' (or some variation thereof) Description: Folk etymology Circulating since: The 1960s Status: False Variant #1: Email example contributed by T. McInnis, 22 March 2001: In ancient England a person could not have sex unless you had consent of the King (unless you were in the Royal Family). When anyone wanted to have a baby, they got consent of the King, the King gave them a placard that they hung on their door while they were having sex. The placard had F.*.*.*. (Fornication Under Consent of the King) on it. Variant #2: From a Usenet posting, 1 November 1990: The word f**k comes from colonial times, when someone would be punished for 'prostitution' It was an acronym for the words 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' F**K was written on the stocks that held these criminals because For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was too long to go on the stocks. Variant #3: From a Usenet posting, 12 October 1990: I always heard that "F.*.*.K." originated in the 1800's in London, when they used to charge prostitutes "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge". So officer got sick and tired of writing those, um, lessee, 26 characters, not including spaces, so it got abbreviated F**K and stuck. Comments: Having consulted the definitive reference work on this subject (yes, there is such a thing: The F-Word by Jesse Sheidlower, published by Random House in 1999), I feel confident in dismissing all the claims above as imaginative bunk. The word f**k did not originate as an acronym. It crept, fully formed, into the English language from Dutch or Low German around the 15th century (it's impossible to say precisely when because so little documentary evidence exists, probably due to the fact that the word was so taboo throughout its early history that people were afraid to write it down). The American Heritage Dictionary says its first known occurrence in English literature was in the satirical poem "Flen, Flyss" (c.1500), where it was not only disguised as a Latin word but encrypted - gxddbov - which has been deciphered as fuccant, pseudo-Latin for "they f**k." According to Sheidlower, the earliest claims in print of supposed acronymic origins for the F-word appeared during the 1960s. An underground newspaper called the East Village Other published this version in 1967: It's not commonly known that the word "f**k" originated as a medical diagnostic notation on the documests of soldiers in the British Imperial Army. When a soldier reported sick and was found to have V.D., the abbreviation F.*.*.K. was stamped on his documents. It was short for "Found Under Carnal Knowledge." Two more variants appeared in a letter published in Playboy magazine in 1970: My friend claims that the word f**k originated in the 15th Century, when a married couple needed permission from the king to procreate. Hence, Fornication Under Consent of the King. I maintain that it's an acronym of a law term used in the 1500s that referred to rape as Forced Unnatural Carnal Knowledge." Undoubtedly the most famous use of this etymological travesty was as the title of the 1991 Van Halen album, "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." ___________________end info________________ It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs. you can not vote on the truth --Pope John Paul II, 1995 ____________________________________________ Read all my articles at: http://www.xomba.com/xombyte/bigpink?page=1 Creating A World That Works For All http://www.commonway.org Make Money Writing $$$: http://www.xomba.com/referral/7777ea2e The Craigslist House Chapter 1 – Shangra-la: http://www.xomba.com/the_craigslist_house_a_real_life_survivor_series Chapter 2 – the Decision http://www.xomba.com/the_craigslist_house_chapter_2_the_decision XombaZine, medicine for the mind and soul------------Xomba Books - An Idea! http://www.xomba.com/xombazine_medicine_for_the_mind_soul_xomba_books_an_idea Obama for America http://www.BarackObama.com "...it is time to pass the torch from one generation to another..." 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Nice Read. Thought I would drop my 2 cents in on the original meaning of the "F-bomb". Which is hardly applicable in our language today, but yet ironically still implies a shell of it's original meaning. For one usually know F = For * = Unlawful * = Carnal * = Knowledge Sadly, as was pointed out above. A lack in education, poor environment, lacking parental judgement, poor choice of companions, and of course wide media/movie endorsement is the reason we are forced to hear the constant odious stream of profane ignorance dripping from the mouths of babes. FreeCracker4Jack Would you like to earn money writing similar articles? CLICK ME! Read more great articles: http://www.xomba.com/xombyte/free_cracker_4_jack?p