What is the origin of the word "fuck"?

The idea that fuck is an acronym, let alone a Victorian acronym, is an urban myth. Fuck has been around a lot longer.

The first recorded usage of the word was in 1503, in a poem by Scottish poet William Dunbar. The origins of the word, however, are somewhat murky.

Amongst the Germanic languages (which include English) there are many similar words which mean the same thing. There is the Middle Dutch fokken, meaning "to thrust, copulate with"; Norwegian dialect fukka: "to copulate"; and Swedish dialect focka, meaning "to strike, push, copulate", not to mention the German "ficken". Some scholars derive the word from the latin futuo, others from the Indo-European root peuk, meaning "to prick".

Whatever its origin, it is clear that it's been enlivening the English language for quite some time.

Edit: Ok, people aren't reading my answer before posting. Let me repeat:

FUCK IS NOT AN ACRONYM. This is an urban-myth.

It doesn't stand for "for unlawful carnal knowledge". It doesn't stand for "forniction under king's consent" (whatever "forniction" is, that would make the acronym "FUKC" for fuck's sake!) and it doesn't stand for "Fornicating Under Consent of the King"

I'm accurate with my information, the word fuck has been around since before the 16th century. And in case you didn't get the message:

FUCK IS NOT -REPEAT- IS NOT AN ACRONYM.

Jeez!

Comments

Absolutely Right!
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by MyKinKStar on June 29th, 2006
You're awesome! I use that word all the time I had no idea where it came from. :-D
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by DeepBlueSomething on February 5th, 2007
See if you can guess where does "Blow Me" come from!!!
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by Fornicating_All_Day on May 10th, 2007
bend over and i'll show you
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by Anonymous on August 10th, 2009
also, from actual sound of fucking a woman in her vagina, actually many times makes sound that actually sounds like word fuck!
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by bigballswally on October 4th, 2010
I think "forniction" might be a misprint for "fornication".
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by Andy B has left AB on August 6th, 2011

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What is the origin of the word "fuck"?

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