What is the origin of the word "fuck"?

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• "False etymologies
  
  One reason that the word fuck is so hard to trace etymologically is that it was used far more extensively in common speech than in easily traceable written forms. There are several urban-legend false etymologies postulating an acronymic origin for the word. None of these acronyms was ever recorded before the 1960s, according to the authoritative lexicographical work The F-Word, and thus are backronyms. In any event, the word fuck has been in use far too long for some of these supposed origins to be possible. Some of these urban legends are that the word fuck came from Irish law. If a couple were caught committing adultery, they would be punished "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge In the Nude", with "FUCKIN" written on the stocks above them to denote the crime. Another theory is that of a royal permission. During the Black Death in the Middle Ages, towns were trying to control populations and their interactions. Since uncontaminated resources were scarce, many towns required permission to have children. Hence, the legend goes, that couples that were having children were required to first obtain royal permission (usually from a local magistrate or lord) and then place a sign somewhere visible from the road in their home that said "Fornicating Under Consent of King", which was later shortened to "FUCK". This story is hard to document, but has persisted in oral and literary traditions for many years; however, it has been demonstrated to be an urban legend.[9]"
  
  --Wikipedia.

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  by Prunesquallor on August 3rd, 2011

• Nice work! What's your take on it? :)

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  by righty1 on August 3rd, 2011

• Well, all those acronyms have the mark of being urban legends. There is one for shit, which is something like 'store high in transit', which is completely false. The word dates back to the Middle Ages, and comes from the German. Most of the words we regard as swear words come from the original Anglo Saxon, when they were just straightforward terms for parts of the body and bodily functions.

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  by Prunesquallor on August 3rd, 2011

• Oops, sorry, got a duplicate answer somehow.

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  by Prunesquallor on August 3rd, 2011