15 Old-Timey Names for 'Gay'

15 Old-Timey Names for 'Gay'

Prior to 'gay' became typical and approved parlance, the world invented its own informal terms for men that dug males. Some names were self-created and also others were thrust, often cruelly, upon gay, bi, and queer men. Prior to these words disappear forever, below is an etymological tip of days past.

An usual, mostly innocuous regard to the center of the 20th century used among gay and also bi guys. An option: Mary Louise.

Mid-century American. It can refer even more to disposition than sex-related methods, however it is gently bad.

Refers to Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz? Played by Judy Garland in the film? Get it? Huh?

Respectful however demeaning. See the Broadway play and also the film of the same name. Origin most likely the U.K.

Australian\/British. Said to be derived from the sounds the bugee makes when getting rid of air from a freshly extended rectum. Do not say we do not do our research below. Option: poofter.

1950s American slang popularized by J.D. Salinger's unique The Catcher in the Rye.

Can be as widely made use of as the word fuck with as lots of definitions. Based upon words buggery (sodomy). From the U.K., certainly. It lugs with it a rowdy feel, as it is a word straight British men have a tendency to prefer.

This set denotes not only homosexuality yet effeminacy. Please pay attention to Julie Andrews's variation of \"There Are Fairies in the Bottom of Our Yard.\"

A lovely flower with a face, but likewise we see referrals to storage tanks made use of by Germans in World War II-- panzies, from panzers. OK, whatever. Below's a story: When British eccentric Stephen Tennant was however a lad, he ran out of the family members mansion one morning to play, only to find yelling back to his mom in rips. When she quized him regarding his distress, he replied, \"Mom, there are pansies in the garden, and they are looking at me!\"

British, potentially from the gay subculture language Polari. Fruitcake can also indicate a lunatic.

Earliest reference we can discover: Karl Heinrich Ulrichs released The Race of Uranian Hermaphrodites, i.e., the Man-Loving Half-Men in 1864. The term became used primarily by German men. Additionally: Urning. There is still a gay touring company called Uranian Traveling.

Based on a vaudeville term. The Nance was a gay burlesque personality that was a staple of the moments. Now taken into consideration derogatory.

British. Apparently MP Jeremy Thorpe (over left), a former leader of the U.K. Liberal Party, was charged of having a homosexual event with Norman Scott, a design (over right). He declared to have needed to \"bite the cushion\" to keep quiet so his better half would certainly not hear him being buggered in the following room. This story seems rather conflated, however amusing sufficient to duplicate here.

Well, obviously you do not intend to obtain your shirt besmirched, do you? British (they seem to have as several words for gay as Alaskans provide for ice). See the movies An additional Country or Maurice.

Essentially implying that regardless of outward markers of man and female gender, a persons sex-related nature was inverted. Popular at the late 19th and early 20th century by sexologists, yet doubtfully used amongst the real inverts. Possibly Radclyffe Hall utilized it. However Radclyffe was so hardcore.