First use of 'taint' to mean perineum?
October 12, 2009 10:10 AM Subscribe
What was the first use of 'taint' to mean perineum?
I know the joke--"It ain't [genitals] and it ain't ass"--but who first said this and when?
I know the joke--"It ain't [genitals] and it ain't ass"--but who first said this and when?
The only time I've seen that term used was in Ina May Gaskin of the Farm's Spiritual Midwifery book back in the 70s.
posted by mareli at 11:11 AM on October 12, 2009
posted by mareli at 11:11 AM on October 12, 2009
The origin is probably older, but without a doubt you can thank Mr. Show for the current taint phenomenon.
posted by hamsterdam at 11:17 AM on October 12, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by hamsterdam at 11:17 AM on October 12, 2009 [3 favorites]
Here is the Mr. Show sketch "It's Insane, This Guy's Taint" (it's on YouTube, but still kinda NSFW) referenced by hamsterdam. Clearly, the term predates this sketch
posted by mhum at 1:14 PM on October 12, 2009
posted by mhum at 1:14 PM on October 12, 2009
in 1993 in northwest arkansas kids in my junior high were using taint as part of insults, so, yeah, certainly predates mr. show.
posted by nadawi at 1:41 PM on October 12, 2009
posted by nadawi at 1:41 PM on October 12, 2009
I swear the term was used in a Deadwood episode (I think Hostetler said it? some time in season 2?) but my Google skills fail to confirm that at the moment. Could it have been used in the late 1800's?
posted by DakotaPaul at 4:22 PM on October 12, 2009
posted by DakotaPaul at 4:22 PM on October 12, 2009
I was introduced to the term in the early 1980s. It's the type of rude slang that would tend to have few print sources in any case, thus finding a derivation/origin is probably impossible. The best you can do is someone with an OED or perhaps the D.A.R.E. when it publishes its final volume (including T) next year.
I suppose a 19th century origin isn't impossible, but it sounds a bit 20th century to me.
posted by dhartung at 8:49 PM on October 12, 2009
I suppose a 19th century origin isn't impossible, but it sounds a bit 20th century to me.
posted by dhartung at 8:49 PM on October 12, 2009
The best you can do is someone with an OED
Tried it. "taint" isn't in the online OED in this sense. However, it once referred to a small red spider.
posted by Zed at 10:15 PM on October 12, 2009
Tried it. "taint" isn't in the online OED in this sense. However, it once referred to a small red spider.
posted by Zed at 10:15 PM on October 12, 2009
Response by poster: Yes, my hardcopy OED has an entry for "taint" as a contraction of "it ain't" with the earliest citation dated 1839; there's no mention of the "perineum" sense. Thanks for all your answers.
posted by magicbus at 6:46 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by magicbus at 6:46 AM on October 13, 2009
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posted by Zed at 11:09 AM on October 12, 2009 [3 favorites]