Where does “whip-arse” come from?
whip-arse (English) comes from English arse, from Middle English ars, from Old French arz, from Latin artes, from Latin ars, from Proto-Italic artis, from Proto-Indo-European h₂értis, from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- — to fit, to fix, to put together.
whip-arse (English): A schoolmaster
Definitions
- A schoolmaster
Ancestry of “whip-arse”, step by step
whip-arse traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English arse
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | arse | The buttocks or more specifically, the anus; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | ars | arse, anus; bottom, buttocks; plural of art |
| 3 | Old French | arz | — |
| 4 | Latin | artes | second-person singular present active subjunctive... |
| 5 | Latin | ars | art; skill, craft, handicraft, trade, power |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | artis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂értis | fitting |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂er- | to fit, to fix, to put together |
via French fouette-cul
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | fouette-cul | A person in charge of administering discipline by... |
| 2 | French | cul | butt, bum, ass, arse; anus; arsehole; asshole;... |
| 3 | Middle French | cul | arse; ass; anus |
| 4 | Old French | cul | bottom; the buttock |
| 5 | Latin | cūlus | the arse, ass |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | kūlos | corner |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱuH-ló- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |