While shoe-horning these into conversation today might prove difficult, these 17 synonyms for sex were used often enough in 19th-century England to earn a place in the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, a book for upper-crust Britons who had no idea what the proles were talking about.
1. Amorous congress
To say two people were engaged in the amorous congress was by far the most polite option on the list, oftentimes serving as the definition for other, less discreet synonyms.
2. Basket-making
“Those two recently opened a basket-making shop.” From a method of making children’s stockings, in which knitting the heel is called basket-making.
3. Bread and butter
One on top of the other. “Rumor has it he found her bread and butter fashion with the neighbor.”
4. Brush
“Yeah, we had a brush once.” The emphasis here is on brevity; just a fling, no big deal.
5. Clicket
“They left together, so they’re probably at clicket.” This was originally used only for foxes, but became less specific as more and more phrases for doing it were needed.
6. Face-making
Aside from the obvious, this also comes from “making children,” because babies have faces.
7. Blanket hornpipe
There is probably no way to use this in seriousness or discreetly, but there you have it.
8. Blow the grounsils
“Grounsils” are foundation timbers, so “on the floor.”
9. Convivial society
Similar to “amorous congress” in that this was a gentler term suitable for even the noble classes to use, even if they only whispered it.
10. Take a flyer
“Flyers” being shoes, this is “dressed, or without going to bed.”
11. Green gown
Giving a girl a green gown can only happen in the grass.
12. Lobster kettle
A woman who sleeps with soldiers coming in at port is said to “make a lobster kettle” of herself.
13. Melting moments
Those shared by “a fat man and woman in amorous congress.”
14. Pully hawly
A game at pully hawly is a series of affairs.
15. St. George
In the story of St. George and the Dragon, the dragon reared up from the lake to tower over the saint. “Playing at St. George” casts a woman as the dragon and puts her on top.
16. A stitch
Similar to having a brush, “making a stitch” is a casual affair.
17. Tiff
A tiff could be a minor argument or falling-out, as we know it. In the 19th century, it was also a term for eating or drinking between meals, or in this case, a quickie.
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17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Hehehehehe hehe hehehehehehehehe hehe hehe hehe hehehehe...
hehehehe hehe hehehehehehehe...
hehehe hehe hehe hehe....
You said "shoe-horning"... hehe hehe hehe...
hehehe hehe hehe hehehe hehehe hehe hehe hehe hehe....
hehehehe hehe hehehehehehehe...
hehehe hehe hehe hehe....
You said "shoe-horning"... hehe hehe hehe...
hehehe hehe hehe hehehe hehehe hehe hehe hehe hehe....
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
But there was no sex before the 60's, and certainly not of the casual variety...
FUCKERPUNKERSHIT!
Wanna buy some pegs Dave, I've got some pegs here...
Wanna buy some pegs Dave, I've got some pegs here...
You're my wife now!
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
...but there was plenty of swiving and shagging.Cormac wrote:But there was no sex before the 60's, and certainly not of the casual variety...
I call bullshit - Alfred E Einstein
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
'The beast with two backs' was not included I see. Never liked it anyway so just as well!
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
If you like this sort of thing, get a copy of the "Dictionary of Obscenity, Taboo and Euphemism".
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Then what did Iago refer to when he compared Othello and Desdemona to a black ram tupping a white ewe ?Cormac wrote:But there was no sex before the 60's, and certainly not of the casual variety...

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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Expanding the scope of the topic a bit in the sense that marriage is a public declaration of a private intention: "They are an item."
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
The subtitle of my autobiography...Pappa wrote:If you like this sort of thing, get a copy of the "Dictionary of Obscenity, Taboo and Euphemism".
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
except it's usually used to designate an item that is not formally wed.Hermit wrote:Expanding the scope of the topic a bit in the sense that marriage is a public declaration of a private intention: "They are an item."
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Thanks for splitting hairs.Svartalf wrote:except it's usually used to designate an item that is not formally wed.Hermit wrote:Expanding the scope of the topic a bit in the sense that marriage is a public declaration of a private intention: "They are an item."

I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. - Stephen J. Gould
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Or around here, "a catalog".Hermit wrote:Expanding the scope of the topic a bit in the sense that marriage is a public declaration of a private intention: "They are an item."

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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Bought off ebay for $8Pappa wrote:If you like this sort of thing, get a copy of the "Dictionary of Obscenity, Taboo and Euphemism".

Amazing how you can get cheap books when you like shit that noone else reads.

The Pope was today knocked down at the start of Christmas mass by a woman who hopped over the barriers. The woman was said to be, "Mentally unstable."Trolldor wrote:Ahh cardinal Pell. He's like a monkey after a lobotomy and three lines of cocaine.
Which is probably why she went unnoticed among a crowd of Christians.
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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
The book I want the most sells for over $,1000 U$ and can't be sold on E-bay.redunderthebed wrote:Bought off ebay for $8Pappa wrote:If you like this sort of thing, get a copy of the "Dictionary of Obscenity, Taboo and Euphemism".![]()
Amazing how you can get cheap books when you like shit that noone else reads.

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Re: 17 Euphemisms for Sex From the 1800s
Australia's finest contribution to the English language is "fuckwit" IMO.redunderthebed wrote:Bought off ebay for $8Pappa wrote:If you like this sort of thing, get a copy of the "Dictionary of Obscenity, Taboo and Euphemism".![]()
Amazing how you can get cheap books when you like shit that noone else reads.
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