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by Drublic on February 8th, 2007

Drublic

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Where did the term "Peeping Tom" come from?

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  • by Anonymous on February 8th, 2007

    Anonymous

      It's from the legend of Lady Godiva.  Various versions of the story have it that she rode naked through Coventry to protest the high taxes that her husband imposed on the people; or did so on a dare, in which her husband agreed to lower the taxes if she went through with it.  Most versions of the story have it that the people of the town had such respect for her that all averted their eyes or hid in their homes, or whatever, to avoid seeing her naked; with the exception of one man, named Tom, who was thus the first “peeping Tom”.  Some versions of the story have it that peeping Tom was struck blind as a result of his seeing Godiva's nakedness.

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  • by spacecadet on March 15th, 2007

    spacecadet

    Lady Godiva was an actual historical figure and is mentioned in various ancient records, including the Domesday survey of 1085.She married Leofric in 1040 and in 1043 she persuaded him to build a Benedictine monastery at Coventry.

    There is a Latin text,the Flores Historiarum, written a century or so after the supposed event by Roger of Wendover, who died in 1236. It explains how Leofric granted her request only after she agreed to ride naked through the town.
    There are no accounts of this story which mentioned a 'Peeping Tom' character until the 18th century.
    The name 'Peeping Tom' is first recorded in the Coventry city accounts in 1773, recording a new wig and paint for the effigy of Tom the Tailor.
    In the centre of Coventry there is a clock with moving figures. On the hour Godiva rides across the front of it and above her a window opens, Tom looks out and covers his eyes, as if blinded, before they both go back inside.
    Pictures here:
    http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/nowandthen/godivaclock.jpg

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  • by Sean_Garbutt on February 8th, 2007

    Sean_Garbutt

    It comes from a traditonal English story where a Princess is forced to ride through a town center naked on a white horse. Everyone in the town kept their curtains closed except for one person - tom! Thereafter he was known as peeping tom!

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  • by singwell-is off researching a lot on April 26th, 2007

    singwell-is off researching a lot

    I am descended from Lady Godiva, or Godgifu, the 'princess' in the story. She was a Saxon noblewoman, second only in status to the Queen, by birth. She was married to Leofric of Mercia, but was estranged from him. When he levied ruinous taxes on the city of Coventry, she stepped in on their behalf, asking for relief. Leofric's answer was for her to return to him and submit herself. So she rode through the streets of the city, not naked as such, but in her shift, with no jewellery or other signs of her status. She was a deeply Christian woman, and was willing to sacrifice herself for her people.
    The Peeping Tom incident, however, appears much later than the actual story, and may have been a later embellishment for a moral purpose.

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  • by bolilla on March 15th, 2007

    bolilla

    Peeping Tom is also a really great film, if you ever have the chance to watch it; not based on the historical events.

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  • by Anonymous on March 15th, 2007

    Anonymous

    It referred manily to a male, prowling around someones house or business, looking in the windows and acting suspicious.

    Today, this phrase is not used by the police. it is outdated, since women do a little peeking themselves.

    Should females have been called "peeping tommies"?

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