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by MDCCBCH on April 14th, 2005

MDCCBCH

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Where did the word tomboy originate?

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  • by Joel Lyons on April 25th, 2005

    Joel Lyons

    An english language print reference to the term tomboy can be
    traced back to 1553 when it was used to describe a "rude,
    boisterous boy." Another reference, in 1579, as a "bold or
    immodest woman" and in 1592: "a girl who acts like a spirited
    boy." This development of the word is largely a corruption,
    through misinterpretation and mistaken use over centuries
    and is derived from the Anglo Saxon "tumbere" meaning
    dancer or romper, from the same roots as the French
    "tomber," to tumble about. Hundreds of years later the
    early meaning of a promiscuous boisterous girl or woman
    resurfaced in the shortened slang term Tom, meaning
    prostitute, when in the 1930's London Police used the term
    to describe a prostitute working the Mayfair and Bayswater
    areas. Australia and USA underworld slang both feature
    similar references.

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    • Wow, tons of detail. Nice answer.

      Relsqui

      by Relsqui on June 1st, 2005

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