prick When it comes to insulting slang, look no further than the human body. Pussy, cunt, twat… these words can all be used as weapons when it comes to a verbal smack down. And while it's usually the female body that attracts the most slang terms, guys have contributed a few words of their own…which brings us to the word prick. Prick is mainly used to describe when someone is acting like a jerk, but it can also be used as a slang term for penis. The more PG definition of prick means, "to puncture or mark." So where did this term come from? And how did it get so many meanings? According to etymologists, the word prick originated in the Middle English (from prikke) or Old English (prica) and dates back to before the 12th century. Back then, it pretty much meant what it means today: to make a small hole by a pointy or sharp object. It was also used amongst farmers to describe a piece of sharpened wood that kept oxen in place, like a fence. Around the late 1500s, prick became synonymous with penis. Why? We can only guess that the penis was (and is) considered a sharp object that punctures or pierces the vagina/hymen. However, it wasn't until the 20th century that prick actually became an insult. In 1929, prick was defined as, "one in authority who is abusive or unjust" by the prestigious journal American Speech--in other words, someone who's a jerk. And just like today, the term was typically only applied to men. This is different than other body-inspired insults, like pussy, that can be applied to both men and women. Today, the term prick is still used for all of the meanings it has acquired throughout history. From the cult classic, Fast Times at Ridgemont High ("No brain little prick.") to the mobster movie Casino, the term crops up all across pop culture. Now, the question is: Have you ever called someone a prick?

hater Have you ever felt really good about yourself, maybe after a big accomplishment, only to be shot down by someone who isn't (or is) as successful? If so, you've probably encountered a hater. A hater is typically someone who talks negatively about--or "hates on"--someone else. Hate is a strong emotion, and haters may not actually hate a person or group. They may, for example, just have some difficulty accepting someone else's success. Jealousy, racism and negative attitudes toward a group or an individual can also be telltale signs of a hater. Disliking someone or something doesn't automatically make someone a hater. Sometimes people are labeled as haters just for voicing their opinion. Constructive criticism (like telling your best friend something she may not want to hear) can also be mistaken for hater behavior. The word "hater" originated from the phrase, "Don't hate the player, hate the game." In other words, don't blame someone who fools around with a lot of people; blame the system (or whoever is allowing the "player" to fool around). For more about the label "player", click here. Hip-hop artists popularized the word "hater" during the mid-to-late 1990s. Lil' Kim released the song Player Hater in 1996, and Mase released the song Hater the next year. Over the years, "hater" has become more mainstream. Rock and pop artists use the word in their lyrics, and celebrities often use the word to describe people who put them down. For example, Hilary Duff recorded the song Haters on her 2004 self-titled album. The term "hater" isn't only used in the music scene: A 2003 episode of the Dave Chapelle Show mocked player haters in the skit, "Player Haters Ball." On the show, rapper Ice-T awards Dave Chapelle's character, Silky Johnson, with the title "Player Hater of the Year." When Silky Johnson makes his acceptance speech, the crowd boos instead of cheers. There are many variations of the word "hater." Mary J. Blige coined the term, "hateration"--basically a fancy way of saying "hatred"--in her 2001 single, Family Affair. The song is about letting loose on the dance floor without caring what other people think. Other songs on her album No More Drama are also about escaping negativity. "Haterade" is another offshoot of "hater." The word is a combination of "hater" and the sports drink Gatorade. "Haterade" refers to an imaginary drink that causes hatred. You may, for example, jokingly offer someone some Haterade if they are putting you or someone else down. "Hater" can also be spelled more than one way. When text messaging or talking to someone on the Internet, hater is sometimes spelled "h8r." The word can also be shortened to just "hata."

player "You see, there are two kind[s] of people in the world today/ We have, the playaz, and we have, the playa haters/ Please don't hate me because I'm beautiful baby..." - Notorious B.I.G., Playa Hater Simply put, if a guy hooks up, sleeps around or dates many women, he is usually referred to as a player (or playa). Charming and irresistible, there is something about this one person that makes the girls flock to him...and chances are, if you attend (or have attended high school), you've known a few guys who have gone by this label. So where did this term come from? Unfortunately, it's not really known. However, the general definition of the word player is one who participates and/or is good at a game. It's not a far stretch to see the metaphor of dating or hooking up as a game. Today, the term player is all over the place, and usually comes with specific gender connotations. Males are players, while women, if exhibiting the same behavior, would be called "sluts.". Just another case of the double standard that exists between the sexes... Within the hip-hop scene it's common to hear rappers refer to themselves and/or their entourage as players. For example, Snoop Dogg released a DVD in 2003 titled Boss Playa: A Day in the Life of Snoop Dogg and Nas has a song called, "Poppa was a Playa" from his album The Lost Tapes. The hit comedy program Chappelle's Show also touched on this term during its first season, when they aired a skit called "The Player Haters Ball" --a player hater being one who tries to put down, make fun or criticize another guy for being a player. During the show, the rapper Ice-T made an appearance and presented the award for "Player Hater of the Year" to Dave Chappelle's character, Silky Johnson. For those who defend the player lifestyle, it's common to hear, "Don't hate the playa, hate the game," which comes from Ice-T's song, Don't hate the Playa.

pervert What do gay people, MySpace users and Scarlett Johansson have in common? In the past two years they have all been called perverts in the mass media. Ms. Johansson was called a pervert in a gossip blog when she was seen staring at a male actor's body during a movie shoot; over twenty thousand MySpace users were referred to as perverts in the news after they were removed from the site in an effort to reduce the threat of sex predators; and gay people everywhere were condemned as perverts who should be put to death by Muslim cleric Yusuf Qaradawi. According to these sources, perverts are all around us…Or are they? The label "pervert" and its alternatives "perv" and "pervo" can conjure up some pretty creepy images: old men trolling the web for young girls, guys sniffing stolen panties, S&M enthusiasts decked out in black leather, etc. But, have you ever wondered where these associations came from? How did particular people, acts and things come to be labeled as perverted in the first place? According to the dictionary, a pervert is someone (of either gender) who has “deviated from what is considered moral or right or proper or good.” Originally, used only as a verb, the word pervert comes from the Latin word pervertere, meaning "to corrupt, turn the wrong way, turn about," from per- "away" + vertere "to turn." In the 1600s, people began to use the word pervert as a noun to describe "one who has forsaken a doctrine or system regarded as true.” It wasn't until hundreds of years later that pervert took on the sexual connotation it has today. This evolution of meaning is partly due to 20th century Western psychology. How? Well, before the 1970s psychologists referred to abnormal or unhealthy sexual behavior as "sexual perversions" and classified patients with extreme sexual disorders as “perverts.” However, just as the antiquated medical terms "moron" and "imbecile" were removed from modern psychological literature, the label "pervert" has been deemed derogatory too. The concept of what is abnormal or unhealthy sexual behavior has evolved over time. In 1973, for instance, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of sexual disorders. In fact, many sex acts most would consider normal now (such as non-missionary position sex, pre-marital sex and even female orgasm) were once considered perversions, and still are by some conservative groups. Though the medical community no longer uses the word pervert, you may still hear its use in casual conversation. As a verb, "pervert" is pretty neutral. For example, a political reporter might say, "Judge Smith perverted justice with her ruling," to express that the ruling was unjust. However, the same reporter would probably not say, "Judge Smith is a justice pervert," which would imply that the judge gets abnormally aroused by justice. (Though knowing judges, she just might…) When used as a label, pervert is often intended as a playful tease, e.g. "OMG, she just checked out his butt. What a pervert!" but sometimes it is used to accuse someone of being mentally ill or worse since labeling someone a pervert can have serious consequences. In many societies, including the U.S., sexual behavior that infringes on the rights of others can lead to long prison sentences or even the death penalty. While outrageous personal fantasies are legal in every state (how's anyone even going to know?) communicating those desires or ideas can actually be illegal if those expressions are deemed obscene by a community. What do you think of the word pervert? Do you use it to describe people?

MILF Guy #1: Dude, that chick's a MILF! Guy #2: What the hell is that? Guy #1: M-I-L-F. Mom I'd Like to Fuck! Guy #2: Yeah dude! Yeah! -- American Pie, 1999 A MILF is an acronym for Mom I'd Like to Fuck--and for most people, the term MILF was introduced when the movie American Pie hit the big screen in 1999. In American Pie, four high school guys make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. One guy in the group, Finch, ends up completing the mission, but not with another member of the senior class. Instead, Finch ends up doing the deed with his friend's mom; hence the usage of the term MILF. As for the origins of the word, it's hard to track down any real evidence of the word appearing before American Pie. Some people claim to have heard the word used around their neighborhood or local area before the movie, but there's really no solid proof. However, MILF quickly took off after American Pie and is openly a part of mainstream culture--some people even use the term with pride. For example, when Britney Spears was pregnant (the first time) she was seen around Hollywood wearing a shirt that read "MILF in training". Today, you can purchase tons of shirts with other sayings like "Future MILF" (who would wear them is another topic…). And, men are also not afraid to show their admiration for MILFs. In 2003, the band Fountains of Wayne released a song titled "Stacy's Mom," in which a young boy fantasizes about his girlfriend's mom: "Stacy can't you see you're just not the girl for me/ I know it might be wrong/ but I'm in love with Stacy's mom." It quickly became a number one hit on the radio and TV. Besides making a commercial mark, the term MILF has become popular within the porn industry. While there always was a market for younger men and older women, MILF has become the name for this particular category, and one very popular porn website is even called "MILF Hunter," which began after the term appeared in American Pie. Lastly, the term has been changed to reflect other people's desires: DILF (Dad I'd Like to Fuck), FILF (Father I'd Like to Fuck) and GILF (Grandmother/father I'd Like to Fuck). Have you ever used the label MILF? What do you think about it?

narc Ever witnessed someone "telling" or "tattling" on someone? Chances are you have, and chances are you might have heard whispers or snickers about the person being a "narc." Not sure what this means? Or where the term comes from? Read on… Simply put, a "narc" (also spelled nark or narq) is someone who turns you in or reports you to a higher authority, like a teacher, police offer or parent. The term can also be used as a verb, for example, "She totally narked me out." While it may seem like a recent word, this term actually began appearing during the mid-1800s. Two books published around 1860, The Vulgar Tongue and A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, both contained the word "nark." In these books the term was defined as "a person who obtains information under seal of confidence, and afterwards breaks faith" or "a common informer". However, the roots of "narc" go back even further. According to etymology sources, the word comes from the Romani (Gypsy) term nak, meaning nose. There are also several other cultures with similar spellings for the term nose--Hindi's "nak" and Sanskrit's "nakra" and "nasa." So what does a nose have to do with a "narc"? Well, since the 17th century, "to stick one's nose into" or to be "nosey" were popular phrases for someone who intrudes or interferes, much like the current definition. (Some sources also believe the term is related to the French word "narquois," which means to be deceitful.) Narc is also a shortened name for "narcotics" and is used in reference to the police who work in that department. However, this label did not appear until the 1960s, well after the term had been used to designate a snitch or tattler. What do YOU think a narc is?

wigger "Wigger" refers to a "white" person (usually male) who acts, dresses or talks "black." It's most likely a combination of the words "white" and "nigger," though some people say the "w" comes from wannabe (a person who wants to be something they are not). You may also see it spelled "whigger," "wigga," or "whigga." According to the Rap Dictionary white people use "wigger" to describe other white people who "act black" and socialize with black people--and it's usually an insult. The word "wigger" is based on the idea that there's such a thing as "acting black" and that everyone agrees on what that is. In many cases, when people accuse someone of "acting black," they are suggesting that they've adopted the style and culture of the hip-hop community. But there is also a class component to the word. For some people, a wigger is a rich white person acting "ghetto." White rappers (like Eminem) have been called "wigger," as have musicians like Justin Timberlake who names a black musician (Michael Jackson) as an influence. Films such as "Can't Hardly Wait" and "Malibu's Most Wanted" portray the "wigger" stock character in a humorous way. Which raises the question: Why do people think his way of acting, dressing or speaking is so funny? One answer: the wigger is trying to be something he is not--he's being a kind of "poser."But this idea perpetuates the idea that people are defined by the color of their skin and creates a rift between people of different races.

white trash Nowadays the term "white trash" might bring to mind the foul-mouthed guests of "The Jerry Springer Show," with their bad hair, narrow-minded politics and trailer park neighborhoods...just some of the stereotypes associated with poor, white, non-urban Americans. But the phrase was around long before TV. It was first used in the mid-1800's to describe poor white people who didn't own land. As a social class, they were regarded by other whites as economically worthless and expendable as garbage--indeed, "white trash." Calling someone "white trash" is still a putdown that means low-class. (It irks some blacks, too, because of the implication that they are the "regular" trash.) But it can also be a source of pride, sort of a working class badge of honor for "real" white Americans, living without pretense and embracing their roots without shame. By now the label has also firmly rooted itself in pop culture, in a tongue-in-cheek celebration involving everything fromrecipes to mullets.Punk rockers and stars like Kid Rock have embraced white trash culture, and now's there's even a Trailer Park Lounge and Grill in New York City.

wetback "Wetback is a derogatory term used to describe Mexicans who have immigrated illegally to the United States by swimming or wading across the Rio Grande--the river that separates the U.S. from Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol began using the word in 1944 to refer to illegal Mexican immigrants who were easily identifiable by their wet clothing. In 1954, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service made the word "wetback" official by naming the mission to remove illegal immigrants from the United States, Operation Wetback. In response to the increase of immigrants during the early 1950s, the agency developed the program to force immigrants (particularly Mexicans) back to their home countries. Approximately one million Mexican Americans were deported in one year. Today the term "wetback" is often used to express animosity towards Central American or Latin American immigrants--legal and illegal--who do not speak English. Meanwhile, in an attempt to reclaim the word, some Mexican-Americans call themselves Los Mojados, meaning "the wet ones."

wasp "WASP" is an acronym for white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. When someone calls someone a WASP today, they usually mean to imply that the person is uptight, reserved and/or elitist, regardless of their background. The stereotype of the uptight, upper class WASP is based on the assumption that white Anglo-Saxon Protestants are both genetically (white Anglo-Saxons) and religiously (Protestant) predisposed to acting like, well, snobs. The term "WASP" was made popular by E. Digby Baltzell in his 1964 book, "The Protestant Establishment: Aristocracy & Caste in America." Baltzell used the term to refer to the American cultural, political and economic elite--preppy, Ivy League and country club types. These days, the label is used much more loosely to refer to people--almost always white, sometimes Protestant--who fit the behavioral stereotype of a WASP. The Anglo-Saxon part of the term--which refers to descendents of Germanic and Danish people who settled in the British Isles and are by definition white--has become irrelevant

twat "To get the twat I got a knot, no more runnin' from the cops/ now I'm rollin' with Foxx because the block's hot."-- Jamie Foxx, DJ Play A Love Song Much like cunt, the word twat is mainly used as a slightly vulgar slang term for a woman's vagina. It is not recent slang, however. In Henry Miller's 1934 novelTropic of Cancer, he writes, "A man with something between his legs that could...make her grab that bushy twat of hers with both hands and rub it joyfully." So where did the term originate? While there is no specific background, the word can be traced back to old English, where the term twat was most commonly used in reference to hitting someone hard; for example, "I twatted him above the head." Eventually, this term came to mean the female genitalia. One of the earliest documented works was a satirical English poem from the 1660s, which read: "They talk't of his having a Cardinalls Hat/ They'd send him as soon an Old Nun's Twat." Today, twat can be heard in a number of songs, like the one quoted from Jamie Foxx's albumUnpredictable, released in 2005. The term also made an appearance in The Blow Job Song by Blink182 (which is a play off an old George Carlin skit). Besides referring to someone's vagina, twat can also be used to insult someone. One may call another a "twat" if he or she is acting like an idiot or jerk. In the 2001 Academy Award Nominated film,Billy Elliot, the main character, Billy, is called a twat by his grandmother. Lastly, one funny tidbit: today, in the United States, twat has another variation; it is the abbreviation for The War Against Terrorism (written, T.W.A.T.).

trick Today, the word trick--when used as slang or as a label--is known as a derogatory term for women. Usually used by males, calling a female a trick can imply that she is a tease, a ho or a bitch. However, trick hasn't always had this sexual meaning behind it. First introduced into the English language in 1412, the word "trick" was used to describe any act that was mischievous or devious. It didn't necessarily have to be an act sexual in nature. For example, think of the common Halloween saying, "Trick or treat." In 1915, the word "trick" was first used to refer to a prostitute's client. This lead to the phrase "turning tricks," which is used to describe the act of prostitution. Today, it is not uncommon to hear the term used in the media, especially in hip-hop music. Popular rappers frequently refer to women as tricks in their songs, such as the song "Baby If You Get on Your Knees" by the artist 50 Cent ("I ain't here hopin' that your baby daddy ova da shoulder/banks don't associate wit no tricks").Another such artist is Trick Daddy, who happens to use the word in his stage name. Females are not the only victims of this slur. In the gay community, a trick is known as someone who has casual sex. A 1999 film called "Trick," dealt with this subject matter when it portrayed two young gay men who randomly met on the subway and decided to engage in an affair.

tree hugger "Tree hugger" is a phrase used to describe environmental activists. The word originated in the 1970s in response to the Chipko movement in India, which was comprised of a group of villagers opposed to commercial logging. The group became known for its tactic of hugging trees to prevent them from being cut down by loggers. Although it began as a reference to activists who literally hugged trees, the phrase is now used metaphoricaly to refer to people who "embrace" environmental causes. The implication is that they love nature a little too much. In the United States, the term is applied to a wide range of environmental activists. Groups such as Earth First! that engage in acts of civil disobedience, as well as individuals like Judi Bari and Julia "Butterfly" Hill--who lived in a California Redwood tree for 738 days in order to prevent it from being cut down--are referred to as tree huggers.

tool According to dictionary.com, a tool (as a noun) is: "A device, such as a saw, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work," or "something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession," or even, "a person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe." The last definition is generally how the term is used today when referring to or defining someone else. For example, "She's using him and he doesn't even know. What a tool." Not knowing is the key. What separates a tool from someone who's just good at following directions is that the person doesn't realize (or doesn't care) that they are being used. Referring to someone as a tool was probably appropriated as an abbreviation of the phrase "tool of the man" ("the man" being someone very corporate or having lots of power). A tool of the man is used to execute his or her (yes, "the man" can be a woman) dirty deeds. According to Wikipedia, the slang usage of the word tool became popular in the 1990's. Its usage even seeped into late night television. In one particular skit, Jimmy Fallon dressed up as Carson Daly, a popular MTV VJ in the late '90s, and referred to himself as being a "massive tool." A tool can also be someone who just seems lame or is completely unoriginal. They are so used to conforming that they don't seem like they can think for themselves or think independently from what's popular. Tools have also been accused of trying too hard--expelling way too much effort in an attempt to fit in or join the mainstream or non-mainstream (whichever the case may be). Thus, sometimes also being labeled a wannabe or poser. Common derivatives of the word tool are: toolbox (generally meaning that this person is an extreme tool) or toolish (which means that someone is acting like a tool or in a tool-like manner).

thug "My first words were 'thug for life.'" --Tupac Shakur Think of the word "thug." Maybe you picture Tupac Shakur's famous stomach tattoo? Or possibly, a gang of mafia crime bosses? Most people might be picturing the same thing...so we wanted to find out what "thug" really means--and where it came from. Also, we wondered why the hip-hop/rap scene has such a strong connection to the term "thug." Before we get there, let's talk history a bit. Interestingly enough, the term thug is derived from an Indian cult, the Thuggee. The term comes from the Hindi word thag (thief) and from the Sanskrit words sthaga (scoundrel) and sthagati (to conceal.) The Thuggee was a network of secret fraternities who cold-heartedly murdered and robbed travelers. They operated from the 17th century to the 19th century and members of the cult were known as "Thugs." Over time, the term "thug" came to mean those who were ruthless, cruel--and more often than not--criminal. After the original Indian Thuggees, the term was not regularly used again until the 1800s and only reached mainstream language after the rise of gangster crime. Thug was a name used primarily for gangsters. For example, Al Capone, a notorious gangster, was considered a thug and his likeness has been depicted in numerous films like Scarface and The Untouchables. The term "thug" became more positive and popularized in the 1990s by rapper Tupac Shakur. For many, Tupac was a huge figure in the "gangsta rap" culture of the '90s and a major proponent of the thug life mentality. "Gangsta rap," while being one of the most controversial sub-genres of hip hop music, seems almost intertwined with the depiction of being a thug. Although the term was also used by other individuals, Tupac was one of the first to claim that being a thug was not necessarily negative. Tupac was respected not just for his music, but his gang and criminal involvement--just like the thugs of the past. He did not hide his involvement in illegal affairs, and thus appeared more genuine and relatable. However, in contrast to the idea of a thug as merely a thief, Tupac Shakur used the term thug to talk about issues of poverty and racism; his self imposed acronym for T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E was "The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fucks Everybody." Some argue that Tupac tried to de-villianize the ideas surrounding thugs and gangs. He felt that the evolution of the gang lifestyle was directly related to the harshness of how children in poor communities were raised. His views were that society creates the criminal and that those who commit crimes are merely victims of where they were raised. Today, the term thug is most often used in a negative way and is a label mainly attached to primarily minority men who show signs of aggression or who live in poverty.

tease When you were in elementary school, you probably got teased. Maybe you even teased a few people yourself, especially if you have younger siblings. However, as you got older, you probably heard the word "tease" more often in a different sense... The word "tease" has a literal meaning of "to pull or scratch"--as in teasing your hair (which was much more popular in the '80s than it is today). The figurative meaning of "to provoke or annoy" developed in the 1600s from the Old English word taesan, which meant to pluck or pull apart. Today, the word "tease" is used as an insult to describe a person (generally a female or gay male) who flirts and behaves in an overtly sexual manner in order to get the attention of (usually) men, but without the intention to follow through with sex. This usage has been around since the 1970s as a shortened version of the term "cock-tease"--which is why the term tease is not typically used to describe heterosexual men. Being a tease is not the same as being a flirt. Unlike flirting (which is lighter and less serious), teasing (in this sense) is seen as being purposefully misleading and sometimes, intentionally hurtful. A tease knows what she is doing and supposedly receives pleasure or a feeling of power from her actions. A common movie character is the girl who is wrongly accused of being a tease. She is usually a good girl with a nasty ex-boyfriend who became angry when she wouldn't have sex with him. One especially famous version of this character is Claire (Molly Ringwald) in "The Breakfast Club." The sexually frustrated male who calls his ex-girlfriend a tease is such a frequently used character that it was even spoofed in "Not Another Teen Movie," in which the main character, Jake, announces: "...Maybe you should get on that plane to Paris. 'Cause if you stay, we really only have the summer, then I go to college and we'll talk on the phone and spend the occasional weekend together, which is nice. But chances are, one night I'm gonna get wrecked and have unprotected sex with some girl in my dorm. You'll find her thong and call me a slut...I'll call you a cock-tease and we'll break up. So when you really think about it, what's the point?"

stud The female origins of "stud" may come as a surprise to all the men out there who aspire to the term. While "studs" nowadays are virile and attractive in a masculine, athletic way, the word probably comes from the German word for "mare"--and the Middle English "stod," basically a place for breeding mares. Hundreds of years later, the breeding definition still applies, but the gender has changed. Nowadays, a stud is a stallion, or a place where stallions are kept. Retiring racehorses are put "at stud" to be bred post-career, for example. (Mares can be put at stud, but they're never referred to as "studs.") At some point in the early 20th century, "stud" was extended to male humans as well--especially the desirable ones with lots of sexual partners, but not always. Sometimes the sexual references were less overt, such as in theBeat lingoof 1950s, where a stud was just a "guy." Just how sexual the term is and whether or not a stud is a sex object or a sexual aggressor is far from settled. Websites and magazines advertise men as studs to rent for money. But then there's the Michigan college student threatened with sexual harassment charges for using the term in a paper. --faiza

straight edge When someone labels him or herself straight edge, it usually means that they do not drink, smoke cigarettes, use drugs or have promiscuous sex. While these rules may change from group to group (some people believe you must be a vegetarian or vegan, abstain from caffeine and live medication-free to be truly straight edge), the term is most often used with pride. The first use of the term appeared during the turn of the 20th century and referred to eating habits. As early as 1900, there was a restaurant that served only health food called the "Straight-Edge Kitchen." There was also a comic from that period depicting several men, dubbed "Straight-Edgers," having a vegetarian meal. But the term, used as we know it today, didn't take off until the early 1980s, when the punk scene began to embrace the concept of a healthy lifestyle. When some punks became fed up with the self-destructive behavior they usually saw within the punk lifestyle, straight edge began. They continued to go to the shows and listen to the music, but decided to abstain from smoking, drinking, doing drugs and participating in casual sex. Many wore X's on their hands to show their dedication to the clean lifestyle. The X's were originally a sign that the wearer was too young to drink, but straight edgers of all ages wore the X's voluntarily as a symbol of the choices they were making. Minor Threat--one of the first bands to promote this clean punk lifestyle--wrote a song called "Straight Edge" in 1980. An excerpt of the lyrics: "I'm a person just like you/ But I've got better things to do/ Than sit around and fuck my head/ Hang out with the living dead/ Snort white shit up my nose/ Pass out at the shows/ I don't even think about speed/ That's something I just don't need/ I've got the straight edge." Today, the straight edge lifestyle is vibrant and full of many different types of people--punks or not. However, not everyone in the movement has been so open-minded to those who choose to live differently. Considering what a personal thing being straight edge is, it's surprising how often it's associated with violence. In Utah during the 1990s, several people claimed that there were straight edge based gangs and that these gangs attacked anyone who wouldn't conform to their lifestyle. The media coverage of these events led many people to form the mistaken opinion that being straight edge was about being violent. Most straight edgers stress that violence is not what they are about. For most, being straight edge is all about personal choice--being who you are and not letting destructive behavior get in the way of a healthy lifestyle.

stoner Way back, as early as 14th century England, "stone blind" or "stone drunk" meant being as blind or as drunk as you could get. "Stoned"--the state of being very intoxicated by drugs or alcohol--probably grew from that. But it wasn't until the 1970s that anyone was ever called a "stoner," a term that still means about the same thing: someone whose life revolves around getting high from smoking marijuana. "Stoner" arrived when marijuana stopped being just a "hippie" thing and came into wider use. Stoners didn't necessarily have any connection to the utopian, peace-loving, communal-living hippie values that had spread the use of pot earlier. But they did have the reputation for being very laid-back that they have today. Stoners are stereotypically harmless but useless: Not liable to steal anything like a crack user might be expected to do, for example, and not hurting anybody--but not contributing much, either.( Debates continue to rage about how addictive or dangerous pot is, but there is clear evidence of harm to young people who are still developing physically and mentally.) Lately, popular culture seems to be obsessed with everything associated with the mellow 1970s, including marijuana madness. Now there's even "stoner rock": basically '70s-style music with a modern, experimental twist.

spic In Jennifer Lopez's hit song I'm Real (circa 2001), she used the word "nigga" in the song lyrics. Part of the African-American community took issue with J-Lo's choice of words since she is of Latino descent. It wasn't long before two DJ's from HOT 97 (a New York city radio station), began to refer to J-Lo as a "spic bitch." What is the meaning behind this racist slur? And where did the term spic originate? The word "spic" is a derogatory term used in reference to a person of Latin American/Hispanic descent. Like the words "nigger" and "gook," this term is seen as a racist slur--and looked down upon when used by non-Latinos. Though the exact date is not known, the word began to appear during the early 1900s. One of the first uses of the word was published in Ladies' Home Journal in 1919. An article started, "The Marines had been ... silencing the elusive 'spick' bandit in Santo Domingo." There are several theories on the origin of this term. While some believe the term as simply a shortened version of the word Hispanic (hiSPanIC), one of the more popular explanations is that it is a reference to the way Latinos speak English. In Esmeralda Santiago's memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican, she elaborates: "We call themgringos, they call us spiks." "What does that mean?" "Well...there are many Puerto Ricans in New York, and when someone asks them a question they say, 'I don spik inglish' instead of 'I don't speak English.' They make fun of our accent." Today, the term has been embraced by some of the Latino community. For example, DJ Angie Martinez used the word throughout her 2001 album "Up Close and Personal" and the Latin group Cypress Hill also uses the word profusely. However, the term is generally considered derogatory if used by those who are not Latino. Variations on the word include spik or spick.

snob Snobs look down at you: They seem to think they're better or smarter; maybe their parents are loaded or maybe they know a lot about something. But the term actually originated as a putdown for social climbers, people aspiring to look down at somebody else. "Snob" is believed to be an abbreviation for sine nobelitate, Latin for "no aristocratic title." In early 19th century England, a new "middle" class entered the social scene--and began sending kids to college. The universities, up till then aristocrats only, weren't too keen on accommodating the new-rich and so, according to legend, set them apart by inscribing "s.nob" next to their names. Meanwhile, an English writer named William Makepeace Thackeray used "snob" so often in an 1840 series of articles satirizing the English obsession with social status that he is officially credited with originating the word. Whatever the source, the term quickly reached general usage to describe anyone who had succeeded in climbing the social ladder--usually by copying the manners of the upper classes and seeking out their company. At some point in the 20th century, snobbishness became a characteristic of the upper classes themselves. And the word gradually became associated with the superior life that money can sometimes buy. Nowadays, calling oneself a snob can simply mean that you recognize "quality"--and are proud of it. Film snobs are disclosing that they know more about the movies than most people, whilehtml snobs don't see why everyone hasn't learned the programming language by now.

slut People usually use the word "SLUT" to put down a woman for being sexually promiscuous--whether she is or not. It's sometimes used to taunt females who have been raped, and to embarrass girls who go through puberty before their peers. "Slut" is a great example of the double standard that encourages boys to get as much action as possible, while girls are supposed to be virginal and "good." Usually, when you call a guy sexually promiscuous, he's flattered. "Slut!: Growing Up Female with a Bad Reputation," by Leora Tanenbaum, is about the experience of being a called a "slut" in school, and how it affected the author and 50 other women who were similarly labeled.

slacker According to Webster's Dictionary, a slacker is "a person who shirks work or obligation." But lest we allow Webster's to be the be-all and end-all of the English language, urbandictionary.com has a different definition; "a person who chooses the path of least resistance." More, "a slacker is someone who, while being intelligent, doesn't really feel like doing anything." And even, "a nice person to chill with." Slackers, it's clear, have a knack for inertia and a way with "nothingness." "Slacker" has been so potent a label that it's inspired two movies: "Slacker" in 1991, and "Slackers" in 2002. And while the word "slacker" brings to mind images of a flannel shirt-clad Ethan Hawke, brooding his way through "Reality Bites," there's actually a long history behind the surly pose of the disaffected 20-something. Traditionally, "slacker" was a term attached to those who avoided military duty, like Vietnam draft dodgers, or WWII conscientious objector and poet Robert Lowell. The term then resurfaced in the early '90s as a way of branding those who willfully eluded work or school. Slackers became the "loadies" of "Clueless," the stoners of "Harold and Kumar," and the Jacks of the "Will and Grace" set. While there are several forms of slackerdom, the common ground is a commitment to willfully disregarding societal conventions and living life free of the constraints of consumerism and corporate America. Sarah Dunn, author of the "Official Slacker Handbook," notes that, "a lot has been said about the slacker's trademark indolence, but the point must be made that deliberately opting out of socially-recognized forms of activity isn't the same thing as stumbling into inaction." In other words, Dunn argues, slacking off isn't just laziness--it's pointed laziness with a philosophical basis. These days, some of our most famous thinkers would be considered slackers. After all, Thoreau lived comfortably at Walden while only working six weeks a year and Descartes devised Cartesian geometry while hanging around the streets of Holland. And though "slacker" is often considered an insult or an accusation, some choose to reclaim the term as a sign of creativity and resourcefulness. As Winnie the Pooh once said, "Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing."

skank The word "skank" is used to describe a person (originally a woman or girl) who is considered dirty or diseased because he or she is promiscuous or slutty. It is implied that a skank spreads sexually transmitted diseases. You may also hear "skank" used as an adjective to describe a thing or a place. As in, "Dude, that bathroom is skanky." The roots of the word skank are slightly unclear, but it may come from the word "skag", a word that originated in the African-American community in the 1920s to mean a dirty, unclean woman of questionable repute. "Skank" is also a type of reggae/ska dance in which the dancers bend at the waist, and flail their arms in the air. The gyration of the hips during this dance may have lead to views of women who danced in this style as knowledgeable about sexuality and therefore "skanky." Either way, the term is racially charged, though that aspect of the word seems to be largely forgotten or ignored these days. Sometimes it seems women who have lots of sex are "skanks", "hos","bitches" and "sluts," while men are virtually immune to "skankiness". Emily White explores the causes and repercussions of this double standard in her book, Fast Girls: Teenage Tribes and the Myth of the Slut.

scenester A scenester is someone who consciously tries to fit into a cultural scene based around a genre of music, art, film or other media. A scenester will adopt the fashion and habits of people in the scene (such as the comic book scene or the emo music scene) in an attempt to claim oneself as part of it. The word scenester is used both as self-identification and as a derogatory statement. Someone may say, "I'm a scenester" or shorten it to "I'm scene" when identifying oneself. When used as an insult, it is usually in a snobby way suggesting, "You're a just scenester, but I'm the real thing." The difference between a scenester and a person who is simply IN a culture is originality and sincerity. For example, a scenester in the emo music scene might think, "People who listen to emo music have shaggy black hair; therefore I should dye my hair and make it shaggy to prove that I listen to emo music." In reality, a hairstyle has nothing to do with a person's taste in music. When people identify themselves as scenesters, they are stating their pride for fitting in with a group. Most scenesters find it comforting when they meet someone with the same image because they can assume that person also has the same interests. Most people feel a sense of belonging and security by joining a scene--because sometimes you don't know who you really are until you see it! Some people are frustrated by scenesters and see them as trendy wannabes. Some scenesters will follow a scene that already exists without contributing to it like the musicians and artists who originally made up the scene. Scenesters also bring underground scenes into the mainstream, which then "packages" the scene and turns it into a trend. A good example is the punk music scene of the 1980s. Originally, punks wore ripped clothing held together by safety pins because they were against the capitalist system and therefore would not spend money on new clothes. Now, however, clothing can be bought pre-ripped and pinned as a fashion statement having nothing to do with political beliefs. The band "Catch 22" has a song called "Day in Day Out" that expresses frustration with music scenes: "I don't need a music scene/ to tell me who I am..."

retard "Retard" means "slow" in French. When the word came into common English use in the 20th century to describe mentally retarded people, it was offered as a kinder alternative to medieval words like "idiot" and "fool" and images of pitiful, sometimes dangerous, social rejects. Officially, mentally retarded people have low IQs and trouble learning certain skills. "Retard" as an insult is a comment on someone's intelligence--usually sparked by something small, like not getting a joke or saying something corny. The implication is that you are not just "slow" or "behind" at that moment, but in a permanent sort of way. The word "retard" also has a patronizing effect--a common complaint from mentally retarded people is that they're treated like children--and that same inferior feeling also carries over to the insult. Used as a joke, on the other hand, the word "retard" has lost its sting to the point where it can mean the opposite of slow and stupid. The word is making appearances lately on a range ofsuper-sarcastic websites, cartoons and fanzines.

redneck To many people, the term "redneck" conjures images of trailer parks and rifle racks; hunting knives and confederate flags. Which is no wonder, given how often it's used as an insult to describe Southerners in the United States. According to the stereotype, "rednecks" aren't just from the red states--they're often alcoholic and racist too. Calling someone a "redneck" is similar to calling them ""white trash"--it implies that they are poor and uneducated--but it's slightly more regional. According to the "Oxford English Dictionary," this meaning of the word dates back to 1893 when it was a derogatory term used to insult rural farm workers. Farmers would work all day in the sun wearing straw hats and tee-shirts, and the backs of their necks would get sunburned. Get it, "red neck"? Since the South long remained the agricultural hub of the U.S., the term was eventually applied to Southerners in general. The word was first used, however, in 1830, to refer to the Presbyterians of Fayetteville, Georgia. Some historians argue that today's meaning of the term originated with this reference to poor Scotch-Irish farmers. These days, "redneck" has become a source of Southern pride in some circles. Comedians like Jeff Foxworthy turn "redneck" stereotypes into lighthearted mockery, as do television shows like "King of the Hill." Whether a source of pride or prejudice, it seems "redneck" culture has become a part of popular culture.

queer It seems like the term "queer" is everywhere these days. You can watch shows likeQueer as Folk or Queer Eye for the Straight Guyand rock out to the music of pop punk band The Queers. You can even study "Queer Theory" in college. So with all this queerness flying around...what does it actually mean? In most cases, the term queer is used to reference someone who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) community. Depending upon who uses the word (and how), the term queer can be seen as an insult or as completely the opposite--a unifying label. The term can also mean something or someone who is strange or weird. For example, "That movie was a bit queer." However, this usage is mainly used by older generations (i.e. your grandparents). So, where did this word come from? Well, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century. The term queer has always meant strange, suspicious or unusual. But it wasn't until the late 1800s that the term began to mean someone who was not heterosexual (in particular, homosexual men). One of the earliest records of queer under this usage can be seen in a letter to Lord Alfred Douglas from his father John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, during the 1890s. At the time, Queensberry thought his son might be having an affair with the famous playwright Oscar Wilde, and accused Wilde of being a "sodomite." From the 20th century on, the term has mainly been used as a derogatory remark. For example, someone might say, "He looks like such a queer." Since the word connoted homosexuality or sexual deviance, it was an obvious insult; and one that relied (and still relies) heavily on our homophobic culture. However, beginning with the gay rights movement, many in the LGBT community reclaimed the word and embraced it. For example, Queeruption is an annual festival where people of all "queer sexualities" can get together, attend workshops and take in performances. People within the LGBT community may also refer to themselves as queer or use that term to explain their sexuality.

pussy "I never forget a pussy...cat." -- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery If you've ever watched the 1997 movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, chances are you might have gotten a good laugh at the line above. After all, it does contain one of the more vulgar words in the English language: pussy; which is slang for vagina. But where did the term pussy come from? How was it originally used? And how do we use it today? The term pussy originated a long time ago and was used in reference (still is) to a cat. However, the German term "puse," which means vulva or the Old Norse term "puss," which means pocket or pouch are also closely related to the word pussy. Over time, this word took on a feminine connotation. For example, Philip Stubbes wrote in his 1583 book The Anatomie of Abuses, "The word pussie is now used of a woman." Pussy also means a "soft, warm, furry thing," and it was not long before it became a term of endearment towards women. In the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe, one of the male characters says to his daughter, "What do you think, pussy?" Around the late 19th century, pussy began to take on its current sexual meaning. There was a famous vaudeville act preformed by the Barrison Sisters called "Would you like to see my pussy?" During this act, the sisters would rile up the audience with this simple question, only to lift up their skirts at the end to reveal a live kitten sewn into their underwear, with a hole created for the head of the kitten to look out. It was considered very risque and played on the double meaning of the word "pussy." Since that time, other people have used the term for sexual innuendo, like the Bond character Pussy Galore and the pop-singing group (and burlesque act) The Pussycat Dolls. In addition, there are people who just like to use "pussy" as another word for vagina, like Jay-Z sings in the song "Pussy:" "I know this girl we call her sweet cooch brown./Hands down mami had the bombest pussy in town." The term is also used to refer to a coward. For example, someone might say (usually to a male), "Don't be such a pussy." This particular meaning is believed to have evolved from the old English word "pursy," which meant "fat and short-breathed; fat, short, and thick; swelled with pampering." It wasn't long before people connected effeminate men to this term due to its direct relation to a woman's body part. Similar slang terms include: cunt, twat, poonani and coochie.

punk The style and attitude of punk rock--mohawks, anarchy and leather jackets--are what most people think of when they use the word "punk." But back in 16th century England, a "punk" was a prostitute. By the 1920s, "punk" had developed into a slur for men who were the willing or unwilling submissive sex partners of other men in jails. As punks tended to be on the younger side, the word's meaning morphed into "juvenile delinquent." When the '50s rolled around, people hurled the term at young, leather-jacketed street toughs and hot-rodders. In the 1970s, "punk" was co-opted by two young New York fanzine creators who welcomed the notion of being considered delinquents. They wrote about the new music that was emerging in reaction to the monster rock that ruled the airwaves, and named their zine "Punk." The music--from bands like the Ramones, Blondie and the diverse set of "street rockers" that coalesced around New York's CBGB--came to be known as punk, too. From New York, "punk" music spread to England, where it became associated with the politics of anarchy and developed an aggressive aesthetic sensibility, thanks in no small part to the Sex Pistols. Punk became a revolt against conventional life and politics as well as music. This is where the classic punk look developed--safety pins, torn clothing and dyed, spiked hair--as an in-your-face attack on the mainstream. These days, "punk" refers to a look, an attitude, an ethos, a style of music or a person who seems to espouse any of these. It can be hurled as an insult to label someone as degenerate or antisocial, or it can be worn as a badge of pride. Beyond that, however, the definition of punk has become confused (it can be a pretty touchy subject) because of its commercialization and the development of so many kinds of punk music and communities: racist skinheads, non-racist straight-edge skinheads and crusty punks, just to name a few. For more about punk as an art movement, check out Greil Marcus' "Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century" and for more about the birth of the music scene, see “Please Kill Me: the Uncensored Oral History of Punk."

prude In pre-revolutionary France, "prode femmes" were proud, wise, virtuous women. It was a respectful and flattering term. By the time "prude" showed up in the English language in the early 1700s, however, there was nothing kind about it anymore. Women, it turned out, could be TOO wise, too proper--for men's liking, at least, especially if it meant they weren't interested in sex. "Prude" has been used ever since--not just in English but German and French too--against people perceived as uptight, usually women with proper manners or conservative ideas about sex (although now men are called "prudes" too). Modern-day "prudes" also come in the form of government officials or activists campaigning against premarital sex, pornography, prostitution or homosexuality.

prep "Prep" is short for "preparatory." But unless you are doing "kitchen prep" before making a meal or getting ready for a test, the word usually refers to people who look like they could belong to the elite world of American preparatory schools. The old-time New England prep schools--Andover, Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, etc.-- modeled themselves on English "public" schools like Eton (where Prince William graduated and Prince Harry still studies). The idea was to prepare the children of wealthy, WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) families for top colleges and life in the upper crust of society. At this point, you don't have to be a WASP or travel to New England to go to prep school, and you certainly don't need to go to "prep" school to be labeled a "prep." Nowadays, it's more about how you look: understated but classic, wearing khakis maybe, and always lots of cotton. "Preppy" fashion is famously low-key because it is inspired by a class of people who don't care to flaunt their wealth. (Except for the not-so-subtle message of wearing clothes that suggest constant skiing, tennis and sailing--and the occasional loud plaid or hot pink.) When the term "preppy" developed in the 1960s, it was with a mix of awe and annoyance. What was not to like about the clean-cut looks and the tastes of the "old money" prep-school crowd? But they were so insular, so spoiled... Preppy pride soared in the conservative '80s, when Lisa Birnbach published "The Official Preppy Handbook," which extolled the joys of living among the best and brightest while dressed in navy blue and kelly green. Birnbach was kind of kidding, but a backlash followed with books like"101 Uses for a Dead Preppie" and the "I Hate Preppies Handbook." Preps and their trappings have made a lot of enemies along the way. "The Catcher in the Rye"'s Holden Caulfield railed against the "fakes" at his New England prep school and ran away to the less stifling confines of New York City. Hip-hop's embrace of Tommy Hilfiger and other preppy brands has always been part poking fun at the status quo, part appreciation of the quality. Meanwhile, there always seems to be a preppy fashion moment around the corner...

poser Poser this, poser that. Everybody thinks somebody is a poser. Or so it seems if you read internet message boards. Even ours... For example, you've probably heard someone say, "Avril Lavigne is such a poser," meaning she's not really punk, but she pretends like she is. Calling someone a poser is the same thing as accusing them of being fake or inauthentic. They may talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk, whether they're trying to be "punk" or "skater" or something else entirely. People began using the word "poser" to refer to someone who "affects an attitude" in the late 19th century. It comes from the French word, "poseur," literally "one who poses"--like for a picture or an artist. The term became popular within British and American punk subculture during the 1970s. Punks were defined by their anti-corporate values and they worked hard to maintain their outsider status. Ostensibly, they didn't want a mainstream "poser" casually adopting their look because it could dull the punk edge. They were afraid punk could become--and some would argue that it has--just a style of dress and music. Even if no one can agree what punk is--check out gURL's feature "What is Punk?" and you'll see what we mean--a lot self-identified punks feel like they know what it is not. And it's not, they argue, something that can be represented by a popular singer like Avril Lavigne. These days, it's not just punks who use the word "poser." Goths use it, skaters use it, and lots of other groups who are worried that the statements they're trying to make with their alternative lifestyle are being commodified and reduced to a style of dress.

pimp The word "pimp" is one of those slang words that can be an insult or a compliment, depending on how you look at it. In hip-hop culture and now in more mainstream culture (i.e., MTV's "Pimp My Ride"), you may hear someone describe a car or a person as "pimped out," meaning it's decked out or done-up. In other words, it looks really cool. But something that's pimped out can border on being gaudy, which is why some people use the term negatively to say that something is "too much." Everyone's got their limits... Originally, the word "pimp" was used to refer to a male owner of a brothel (whorehouse) or a man who procures prostitutes for customers and takes a cut of the pay...and is often abusive. Pimps are all over the movies, especially the Blaxploitation films of the '70s like "Shaft" or "Coffy," in which they're portrayed as flashy dressers. In a parody of the genre, the pimp in"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," actually wears clear plastic platform shoes with goldfish swimming inside. Presumably, it's because of these outrageous outfits that the word "pimp" has come to be used as a way of describing something souped up and cool.

nympho In Greek mythology, nymphs were beautiful beings associated with specific elements of nature. There were wood nymphs and water nymphs and nymphs who protected certain trees, meadows or mountains. But just how did the term nympho (short for nymphomaniac), used to describe a woman with an overactive, or uncontrollable sex drive, come to derive from the name for these mythical creatures? The Greek word νυμφη, or nymphe, has multiple meanings including "bride" and "veiled." Hence, nymphs, in addition to being beautiful and eternally youthful (though not necessarily immortal), were "marriageable" creatures. Descended from gods, it's no surprise that unions with a nymph were particularly auspicious, and resulted in the birth of kings and heroes. (Ever heard of Achilles? Well he was the son of King Peleus and Thetis, a water nymph.) Unlike their contemporary counterparts, however, nymphs are often depicted as chaste, spiritual beings who fall victim to the obsessive sex drives of some Greek god or satyr. Such was the case with Daphne, the sun god Apollo's first love, who prayed to Zeus to save her from being ravished and was transformed into a tree. In 1775 the French doctor M.D.T. Bienville transformed the meaning of the word nymph forever by combining it with mania (Latin for madness or insanity) to form the word nymphomania. He used it to describe a "female disease characterized by morbid and uncontrollable sexual desire." The slang term nympho first appeared in 1935 and its meaning remained pretty much the same. Today the term is still reserved for women who, according to urbandictionary.com, "eat, breathe and live for sex." But just because a woman is interested in sex (or in the case of nymphos, extremely interested), doesn't make her slutty or whorish despite the connotations the term often carries. After all, the nymphs of ancient Greece usually got involved with one lover or no lover at all. And just because a woman's interested in sex doesn't necessarily mean she's interested in having it with anyone and everyone she meets.

nigger The word "nigger" is a derogatory term for a person with dark skin, especially someone of African origin. It is a variation of the old racial classification "Negro," which comes from niger, the Latin word for the color black. Some historians think the word "nigger" started as the phonetic spelling of the Southern pronunciation of "Negro." Most people consider the word "nigger" to be a racial slur, but it has recently been reclaimed within some parts of the African-American community as a term of endearment. In hip-hop and rap culture, for instance, "nigger" is almost always shortened to "nigga" or the plural, "niggaz" or "niggas." It's most often used by one black person to claim another black person as their friend or family (e.g., "my niggas"). Songs like Biggie Small's "Niggas" begins with a callout "To all my Brooklyn Niggas." But the term is still very controversial. Whether it's considered offensive or not seems to depend very much on context. When white rappers--like Eminem--or film directors--like Quentin Tarantino--try to use the term nigger and its variations in a non-perjorative way, there tends to be more of a public outcry than when an African-American like Puffy does so. Ironically, they are accused of being "wiggers," which is short for white niggers.

jock The "jocks" of today are all about sports, but in its beginnings, "jock" (like "jack" in English) was simply Scottish for "guy." "Jock" was a catchall phrase for men performing any number of odd jobs (hence the expression "jack of all trades"). With time and the industrial revolution, "jock" became short for "jockey" and came to mean anyone who operated machinery or rode a horse. In 1874, the Bike Athletic Company of Tennessee decided to create an undergarment "suspensory" for the men who were being jarred while "jockeying" through the cobblestone streets of Boston on bicycles. The suspensory quickly came to be known by a more common slang name: the jock strap. Men started using it for support during all types of athletic activity, not simply bike riding. During the early epoch of male college sports in the 1920s and '30s, "jocks" were the people who most vigorously supported athletics--especially the sporty university boys concerned with the masculinity that making the team might confer. The word was used in a tongue-in-cheek way--people have always poked fun at anyone so concerned with being macho--but being a jock wasn't so bad. Jocks were generally considered genial and, at least in mainstream media, always "got the girl." That started changing with the counterculture wars of the 1960s and '70s, when sports such as football came to represent all that was militaristic, imperialistic and rapacious in our society. After the Columbine school shooting in 1999, when Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris attributed some of their murderous rage to the torment they'd reported receiving at the hands of school athletes, anti-jock sentiment finally seemed to hit the mainstream. Today, jock has lost its hazy innocence. While it is still used to describe someone who is simply into sports, the jock we've come to love to hate is overly obsessed with them, tends to malign artistic and intellectual endeavors and may on occasion like to use brute strength to bully others.

jap JAP is both an acronym for Jewish American Princess and a racist slur for people of Japanese descent. The stereotype of the Jewish American Princess is, in some ways, no less damning. The character Cher Horowitz in the movie "Clueless" is the prototype of a JAP: rich, spoiled, shopaholic. While most princesses are enviable--regal, wealthy, and (at least in fairy tales) beautiful--the JAP is considered a far cry from traditional nobility. While the exact origins of the term are unclear, the term "JAP" appeared sometime during the post-World War II period. Acceptance of and success within the American Jewish community was growing. The open anti-Semitism in the days before the Holocaust had gone underground. Immigrants and their children were beginning to experience unparalleled growth. There was something uncomfortable about Jews becoming part of mainstream America. They had been persecuted and marginalized for so long that acceptance was not exactly smooth. Perhaps it was this unnerving transition that brought about the need for a new anti-Semitic stereotype. Epitomized by the title character of 1958's "Marjorie Morningstar" and Brenda Patimkin from Philip Roth's novella "Goodbye, Columbus," the stereotypical JAP is the overly-indulged daughter of a upwardly mobile father, looking to give his children all the opportunities he lacked. She's usually the proud owner of a Louis Vuitton bag, pin-straight hair due to a top-of-the-line flattening iron, a keen eye for a bargain, and a new nose courtesy of Dr. 90210. JAP is the little slur that could. Since its entrance into the lexicon, JAP has spawned a new generation of terms devoted to taking women down a notch. JAP has been popularized to such an extent that it's even making appearances in unexpected places. Claire Danes' character, Sookie Saperstein, in "Igby Goes Down" scoffs at being called a JAP and Frank Zappa wrote a song called "Jewish Princess." In the '90s, there was even a movie made called "B.A.P.S." starring Halle Berry as a Black American Princess.

indie Simply put, "indie" means independent from the mainstream. While some may say that a fan of indie culture, otherwise known as an "indie kid" or "hipster," is merely a cultural elitist in an ironic t-shirt, others would argue that being indie means embracing a noble set of values--namely authenticity, experimentalism, anti-commercialism, DIY and appreciation of the world beyond American pop culture. While indie enthusiasts do sometimes adopt a "cooler than thou" posture when bragging about, er...discussing their obscure interests, the overall attitude is admirable--"it's cool to be different." Although the indie label has been applied to politics (the Green Party), fashion (threadless.com), magazines (BUST) and even computer game companies (Rockstar Games), the label most likely originated in the music and film industries. Ostensibly, indie rock does not have the financial support and is therefore not subject to the control of a major record label. Whether or not indie music has a specific style: new wave revivalist, Britpop jangly guitars, etc., is not agreed upon. According to urbandictionary.com, indie rock, such as Modest Mouse, Le Tigre and Stellastar, evolved from "lo-fi" experimental 1960's rock, the 1970's punk scene and the "alternative" rock movement of the early 90's. After the mainstream adopted "alternative" music such as No Doubt and REM, indie rock became the new alternative. Like indie music, indie films are not tied to a major movie studio; therefore, they are typically more experimental and cutting edge. Independent movie making gained popularity in the late 1990's when major advances in digital video technology made filmmaking more affordable, allowing individuals to finance their films without corporations. Not surprisingly, big chain stores like Barnes & Noble don't typically carry music and films produced by independent artists, therefore fans must spread the indie gospel on their own. This may explain the borderline obsessive collecting and cataloging of hard to find records and videos that are so rampant in indie circles. In addition, fans rely heavily on the web to promote their favorite underground projects and artists. As you can imagine, with so many passionate fans of indie culture, who and what is truly "indie" is often in dispute. Musicians, such as Avril Lavigne and The Killers, are sometimes accused of being manufactured by record companies to look indie to capitalize on the credibility of the genre. Others who were once legitimately independent, such as The Strokes and Interpol, are later accused of selling out--trading artistic independence for commercial gain--when they sign with a major record label. Thankfully, not all indie artists sacrifice their reputation when they get rich and famous. Peter Jackson, for example, went from being a low-budget horror moviemaker to the acclaimed director of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy without losing the admiration of his indie fans. As you can see, individuals tend to prioritize different aspects of the indie label. Some require a total rejection of mainstream commercialism, while others emphasize authenticity and experimentalism. And certainly, there are those who think being indie simply requires a rare record collection and a haughty attitude.

ho (whore) There are zero putdowns in the English language for sexually promiscuous men, but so many ways to say that a woman is bad by virtue of being "loose" (slut, bitch, whore, just to name a few). And now hip-hop culture has brought us "ho." The word came into the mainstream through rap music of the '80s and '90s. "She ain't nothing but another ho..." rapped KRS-1 in 1990--sounding very tame, actually, next to groups like NWA, 2 Live Crew and, later, Eminem. "Ho" comes from the Southern pronunciation of the word "whore." But dropping the "r" sound is also supposed to dull the insult (sort of the way "nigga" takes some of the racial slur out of "nigger"). We're not calling you a whore, the argument goes; that's just what we call women. Whatever the offense taken, or not taken, there is no shortage of misogyny in the word's illustrious past. In the flashy gangsta rap videos of the '80s and '90s, the ultimate sign of success was a backdrop of near-naked "bitches and ho's" jiggling on yachts and nice cars. Some rap artists really ran with the pimp-fantasy theme, all the way to lyrics about keeping their women in line with a "slap." And over the years, the word has stretched to fit most things you could say against a woman--or anyone. Sightings include "hoe" (ugly woman), "ho-bitch" (dislikable woman) and "hobeast" (almost likeable, but too much of a wannabe slut). Not to mention "garden tool" (get it? from "hoe") as a general term for a woman. As some people see it, time and changing music styles have taken the word "ho" down a notch; it's funnier now, and sometimes even friendly. Some women in hip-hop are not so sure, however. They have chosen to keep the pressure on--ever since Queen Latifah made her first call to action in 1989, rapping: "Every time I hear a brotha call a girl a bitch or a ho/Tryin' to make a sista feel low/You know all of that's gotta go." Hoes Wit Attitude took it a step further in the 90s, using their own name to make their point with the same sense of irony and humor behind Missy Elliott when she calls herself a "crazy ho."

goth The word "Goth" covers a lot of ground and almost two millennia: from the marauding Germanic tribes of the second century, to pointy European cathedrals and haunting American literature, all the way to the "dark" fashion and music that still gets confused with devil worship. The Gothic architecturethat evolved in Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries--vaulted ceilings, gargoyles, pointed arches--did actually get its name from the Germanic tribes. Italian Renaissance writers apparently thought those cathedrals were ugly and chose to blame them on the barbarians who had done battle with the Roman Empire about a thousand years earlier. But what better setting than a Gothic-style medieval castle for the dark, scary Gothic literature that developed much later, with the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and "Dracula"? Ghoulish encounters with vampires and other living dead gave the characters of Gothic literature a bad case of anti-social behavior--a stigma (or sign of prestige) that endures in modern Goth culture: moody, punk-inspired music, first presented by Siouxsie & The Banshees and Bauhaus, and the black-and-white death tones of Goth fashion. One of the latest blows to the Goth reputation followed the Columbine High School shootings in 1999; the killers were reported to have worn dark trench coats and listened to angsty rocker Marilyn Manson. Wrongly perceived as Goth, they were explained away as worshippers of evil--and members of the Goth community weren't pleased.

gold digger "She take my money, when I'm in need/Yeah she's a triflin' friend indeed/Oh, she's a gold digger, way over town/That digs on me" --Kanye West, "Gold Digger" You may have heard the term being thrown around, especially with Kanye West's hit song, but what exactly IS a gold digger? The label usually refers to someone who associates with rich people, hoping to gain access to their money. The stereotypical gold digger is a woman who marries for money--not for love--so that she becomes rich from her husband's wealth. Whether searching for financial support for her children, expensive things, or a rich and famous lifestyle, these gold diggers want access to a lot of money without having to earn it themselves. The term comes from the California Gold Rush in the 1890s when the miners became known as "gold diggers." These gold diggers flocked to California with hopes and dreams of striking gold and becoming rich overnight. Just like modern "gold diggers," their biggest concern was money--how to get it fast and in large quantities. Today, one typical characteristic of a gold digger is a huge age gap between the two people in a relationship. Large age gaps usually involve an older man with a younger woman (if it's vice versa, the man can still be known as a gold digger, and the woman might be known as his "sugar momma"). The theory is that the younger woman hopes to work her way into the will of the aging partner, so that when he dies she will have full access to his wealth. It is fairly uncommon to hear of male gold diggers, though there are probably many men playing the same game. The term "gold digger" isn't very complimentary and women who are labeled as such can be viewed by society as greedy, selfish, dumb or insensitive. Sometimes women who are involved with older men are unfairly labeled gold diggers, simply because society has certain beliefs on what makes up a healthy relationship. These beliefs include the expectation that the couple is similar in age, class and even looks (i.e. someone who is not considered too pretty or out of their partner's "league"). There are also other terms associated with gold diggers, such as "sugar daddy" and "trophy wife." A "sugar daddy" refers to a rich man who may attract younger women using his money, showering them with expensive gifts and lavish lifestyles. A "trophy wife" is a stereotypically beautiful and dumb woman who looks impressive on the arm of an older man. It is often thought that many trophy wives are gold diggers.

ghetto Nowadays, "ghetto" is usually associated with urban, predominantly African-American slums and the hip-hop stars who grew up in them. But the "ghetto" story goes way back. In Europe and the Middle East in the 14th and 15th centuries, Jewish people were forced to move to segregated neighborhoods under pressure from Catholic and Islamic authorities. These districts got a name with the establishment of an officially segregated Jewish neighborhood in Venice, Italy in 1516. It was called "the Ghetto," which literally means "foundry," because it was built on the site of a metal casting works. Other Jewish ghettos sprang up around Europe later. They were usually overcrowded with unsanitary conditions and their residents' movements were restricted outside of the ghetto's walls. Abolished in the 19th century, Jewish ghettos returned to Europe under Hitler, but this time as holding places for Jews before sending them off to concentration camps. Modern ghettos haven't usually been Jewish but they are always dominated by a single minority group. The communities are poor and working-class; they can be rural (like in South Africa) or urban. Oftentimes they house immigrants who have left home in search of opportunity. That was the case with the earlier American ghettos--such as the Irish and Italian ones of the early 20th century. Now "ghetto" " refers either to a certain district or to someone from a poor urban neighborhood. It can be a term of pride for hip-hop stars who brandish it as a badge of street cred--or just describe life in the 'hood: "Ghetto bird" is a police patrol helicopter, for example, and "ghetto blasters" are the handheld boom boxes so popular on sidewalks in the '80s. "Ghetto fabulous," which is also the name of an album by rap superstar Mystikal, means going for the gaudy appearance of status without the cash to back it up (like souping up a Chevy Nova with expensive rims and a stereo system). But it also applies to a hip-hop star like Lil' Kim, who can afford the finer things but co-opts the flashy look of the "project princess" (lots of gold, leather and fur) as a means of celebrating her cultural roots.

geek Although in Australia a "geek" is a "peek," as in a quick look at something, most of the rest of us know geeks as a special breed of socially awkward people with a passion for technology. The first "geeks" preceded computers by a century or so, however. They were 19th century carnival tricksters who performed bizarre acts such as biting the heads off live chickens or snakes. The special draw of these sideshow routines was the chance to see man in his wild state--all the more raw and exciting if the performer had deformities to display. (Check out Katherine Dunn's 1989 novel "Geek Love," about a traveling freak show family bioengineering their own mutations to keep the business going.) In the 20th century, the head-biter geek morphed into the bookish geek--just as hard to talk to and just as much on the margins of polite society. Geeks (and "nerds") were people with pocket protectors and other hyper-practical accessories who spent their time on math or science problems and showed little interest in other people (or their own appearance). For Classy Freddy Blassie, a WWF wrestling manager in the 1980s, the ultimate insult was: "You pencil-necked geek!" Then came the internet revolution--and suddenly being a geek was not such a bad thing. In some circles, geek is now simply a synonym for "hacker" or even "Silicon Valley engineer." The revenge of the geeks is fully underway! Lately, calling someone a "geek" is just as likely to be a compliment as a putdown.

gay Gay is a complicated little word. On the one hand it refers to male or female homosexuals (e.g., "The gays all live in San Francisco." or "She just told me she's gay."). But it's also used to describe something or someone considered weak, lame or inferior (e.g., "That's so gay." or "Stop being so gay."). Coincidence? Probably not. This second use of the word likely grew out of the first--people who are homosexual (especially men) have historically been accused of being weak and inferior. For this reason, many people find this use of the word offensive. Of course, "gay" originally meant merry or happy--it's from the Old French word gai. But it's had a sexual meaning for over a hundred years. In the 19th century, prostitutes in England were said to dress "gaily." In that historical context, gay meant merry, or joyous, as the prostitutes dressed in a cheery fashion. Brothels were called "gay houses." The word took on its homosexual connotation in the early 20th century in the United States. Within the hobo community homeless boys would look to an older man on the street, or a "gay cat," for survival skills. The relationship between the two companions was sometimes sexual, so the word "gay" took on its current meaning. By the 1920's homosexuals began using the word to describe each other. The earliest uncontested use of the word is in Noel Coward's 1929 musical "Bitter Sweet." Today the word "gay" is widely used--both within the gay community and without--as a neutral way to describe someone who is sexually attracted to members of the same sex.

freak "Freak!" is not really what you want to hear when you're trying to blend into a crowd. But for someone interested in being unique, it can be a compliment. Starting in the early 1800s, freak shows were a popular form of entertainment that literally involved putting weirdness on display. People who had extreme medical conditions--obesity, dwarfism, hairiness--could work in freak shows while people paid money to gawk at them. In the 1970s, the dance music hit "Le Freak" helped launch the disco craze, but also poked fun at the over-the-top devotion of nightclubbers. Being called a "music freak" or a "computer freak" has a certain charm because the idea is that while you may be abnormally passionate about one special thing, you're probably very good at it. Like "Jesus freak," however, it also might contain a subtle putdown about being so fervent about something. If you are not any of those kinds of freaks, maybe you are an average angsty teen like the TV kids on "Freaks and Geeks." Or maybe your freakiness just flares up once in a while without warning, like a freak snowstorm in summer.

feminist "Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings." --Cheris Kramerae, author of A Feminist Dictionary, 1996 You've probably heard lots of things about feminists. They're man-hating lesbians who like to burn their bras in public. Or, bitter women who don't shave their armpits and despise sex. AND, if you listen to Pat Robertson, feminists are encouraged to kill their own children and overthrow the government. If you haven't guessed it already, all of the above--ranging from the silly to the outright ridiculous--are simply stereotypes. The actual definition of a feminist (according to the American Heritage Dictionary) is someone, male or female, who believes in social, political and economic equality between the sexes. Basically, feminists believe that women and men should be treated the same and given the same rights. Now that you know the definition of this f-word, here's a little background info. Even though the term was developed in France (feminisme) in the mid-1800s, it didn't become popular until the 1960s. By the 1960s, the women's movement was well underway and women all over were campaigning for equal rights across the board--from eliminating job discrimination to gaining reproductive rights and political representation in the government. Previously, these women's groups had used the term "women's liberationist" to define themselves, but as it began to lose popularity they embraced the term "feminist." So how did this word come to have such negative connotations? Like most things that are challenged, the previous, male-dominated power structure felt threatened. Change can be scary; and now women were demanding equal pay for equal work or the ability to make choices about their own bodies. Women were rightfully angry and did some very radical things (though no bras were burned, contrary to popular belief). It is much easier for people to put down feminism than admit that society must change its ways. Also, many people tended to (and still do) think that since the term "feminism" has "fem" in it, a feminist must be someone who wishes to raise women above men. But if you look to the actual definition of a feminist, it's simply about creating an even playing field for men and women. And you cannot forget the people or language used that encourages these negative connotations. The term feminazi (feminist + nazi) has been used to criticize feminists, purporting the stereotype that they have a Nazi-esque hatred for men as well as believing that women are superior to men. Therefore, a cycle of anti-feminist discourse is always playing.

faggot "Faggot" is the classic anti-gay slur. Most people think it's a funny coincidence that the word also happens to mean "bundle of sticks." But there may be an ancient and awful connection between the two definitions: During the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th century, homosexual prisoners were forced to collect wood for the Inquisition's witch-burning fires--and their own bodies were then used to fuel the pyres when the flames died out. The word's journey from Latin to Modern English is hard to trace; along the way "faggot" was, among other things, a reprimand for boys who were "sissies" and a putdown for women. By the early 20th century, the term (by then usually shortened to "fag") had made it into American prison slang in reference to men who dressed in women's clothes. (And into British English to mean "cigarette"--possibly because cigarettes were considered effeminate by cigar- and pipe-smokers.) "Fag" has remained a criticism of men with stereotypical female traits--long hair in the 1960s, an earring on one side in the '80s--as much as of actual gay behavior. It has also spawned expressions like "artfag" (a name-dropping, wannabe artist who is not necessarily gay) that play on the stereotype of gay men being sensitive and artistic. "Fag" is still a direct insult when spoken with hostile intent to a homosexual man. But it has also morphed into a more generalized insult, to the point where kids and sometimes adults use it to refer to someone they find wimpy, not "manly" or just plain not good enough.

emo Emo. Short for emotional. Emo. A genre of punk rock. Emo. A dress code of tiny t-shirts and horn-rimmed glasses. Type the word "emo" into your average search engine and you'll get over three million results that will encompass nearly that many different opinions of what emo actually is. The general approach to the term is a lot like the approach to pornography, "I can't tell you exactly what it is, but I'll know it when I see (or hear) it." The history of emo is somewhat less ambiguous than its current meaning. "Emo" music developed out of the D.C. punk scene in the '80s. In its original incarnation, emo was short for emocore, or emotional-hardcore. The name was applied to hardcore punk rock bands who distinguished themselves from their peers by adding an emotional component to their music, dealing with sadness and love and angst in their lyrics. The music was also characterized by particularly dramatic vocals which, at best, left the audience in an emotionally charged state, crying or screaming. These days, emo has been popularized and sent into the mainstream through bands like Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday and Saves the Day. Emo music has even inspired its own subcultural style. Take your average Rites of Spring fan and you get someone who looks a lot like Weezer's Rivers Cuomo--nerdy glasses, vintage tees, cuffed jeans, Converse sneakers and slightly shrunken tops. Black hair and straight bangs, tight hoodies and thrift shop attire are also associated with emo. And while emo devotees are notoriously upfront about their feelings, instead of wearing their hearts on their sleeves, they tend to favor ironic slogans and band logos. Lately, labeling someone as "emo" is something of a put-down, a stand-in for "overly emotional" or "melodramatic." The implication is that they are excessively moody and angsty, prone to crying jags and plagued by a love of bad poetry. Hot Topic even issued a patch that read, "cheer up, emo kid!" But for those who call themselves emo, the term means something more pure. At its core, emo is all about being upfront with your emotions. Or, as one "expert" defined it, "emo is like being Goth, but much less dark, much more Harry Potter."

dyke A "dyke" is a female homosexual or a low wall built to prevent floods (this second kind is also spelled "dike"). Some people suspect there's a connection between the two definitions: that women who were not interested in having sex with men might once have been compared, with disgust, to a stone barrier. On the other hand, Boudicca, a Celtic warrior queen in Britain in the first century AD, could have inspired "dyke." Or the 19th century black women who dug ditches in the American south and were known as "bulldikes" (or even the black male laborers of that time called "bull dicks" by white plantation owners). It's all mostly a game of guessing. Lesbians by any name were mentioned very little in print until about 1920, so it's hard to say when the word "dyke" hit spoken English. When it did hit, it meant--and still often means--a particularly "butch" lesbian: with stereotypically "masculine" clothes and appearance. ("Butch" is actually about a lot more than looks; it was a full way of life in the underground lesbian culture of the early to mid-20th century.) In African-American slang of the 1920s, to be "diked up" was to be "dressed up" and came to refer to women dressing butch. In the '60s, activists fighting discrimination against gay people got their first mainstream notice. And after that, the word "dyke" acquired, for some lesbians, a sense of pride. Like lots of names people call each other, the word changes a lot with context. Shouted at someone in school or on the street, it's mean--and is meant to make a girl or woman think she is not being friendly enough to men. As a less-bookish-sounding alternative to "lesbian," it's mostly just descriptive. Used by present-day lesbian activists and media--Dyke TV or Dykes to Watch Out For, for example--it's descriptive, but with a slightly rowdy we're-here, get-used-to-it edge.