Buzz
Renowned lexicographer and slang authority Jonathon Green has crafted a series of timelines derived from his extensive historical slang dictionary, Green’s Dictionary of Slang. Naturally, this includes timelines for vagina and penis slang. (If the words on the timelines aren’t visible, zoom out using the bar on the right.) These timelines reveal that metaphors involving weapons and food have always been prevalent, and vulgarity is far from a modern invention. The creativity displayed in this area, particularly with the most refined terms, is remarkable. Below are 35 of the most sophisticated slang expressions for vagina and penis from the past 600 years.
Vagina
- Belle-chose (1386)
- Altar of Venus (1584)
- Netherlands (1591)
- Placket-lace (1593)
- Phoenix nest (1618)
- Nature’s treasury (1635)
- Contrapunctum (1653)
- Privy-counsel (1664)
- Aphrodisiacal tennis court (1665)
- Lady’s low toupee (1721)
- Mount Pleasant (1748)
- Petticoat lane (1790)
- Venerable monosyllable (1796)
- Fancy article (1822)
- Mrs. Fubbs’s parlor (1823)
- Antipodes (1832)
- Thatched cottage (1835)
- Cyprian fountain (1846)
- Road to a christening (1903)
Male reproductive organ
- Maypole (1621)
- Nature's trailblazer (1653)
- Master John Goodfellow (1653)
- Procreative instrument (1653)
- Eavesdropper (1653)
- Cyprian scepter (1653)
- Don Cypriano (1653)
- Matrimonial peacemaker (1708)
- Gentleman usher (1719)
- Rule of three (1720)—this refers to the whole genital area
- Silent flute (1720)
- Arbor vitae (1732)
- Impudence (1783)
- Staff of life (1836)
- Mr. Peaslin (1883)
- Credentials (1895)
This article was initially published in 2013 and has been revised for 2021.
