Date:  Mon, 8 May 1995 10:12:21 -0700

From:  Peter McGraw <pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CALVIN.LINFIELD.EDU>

Subject: Re: Anodyne expletives



On Mon, 8 May 1995, Wayne Glowka wrote:



> . . . and asel. He believed the

> >latter to be German for ass-hole, although I don't think Germans ever refer

> >specifically to that orifice.

> >

> >Stephanie Hysmith

> >

> Some Germans lived up the street from me when I was in high school. They

> hollered something like "Asch-loch" for "ass-hole." I don't know enough

> real German to say what this word is supposed to be.

>

>

> Wayne Glowka

> Professor of English

> Director of Research and Graduate Student Services

> Georgia College

> Milledgeville, GA 31061

> 912-453-4222

> wglowka[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]mail.gac.peachnet.edu

>



Pretty close, Wayne. The German word is Arschloch. [Come to think of it,

that probably shoots down my speculation about a derivation of English

"asshole" from German "Esel." The anatomical expression is attested in

Old High German and is probably much older in English - though in the

cognate form "arse" - than such a possible borrowing. I don't have an OED

handy to check.]



Peter McGraw

Linfield College

McMinnville, OR