Fart (word): Difference between revisions

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	{{Two other uses\|the word ''fart'' itself\|information on the bodily function of passing intestinal gas (flatus) via the anus\|Flatulence\|the acronym\|FART}}
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	'''Fart''' is an ] ] most commonly used in reference to ]. The word "fart" is generally considered unsuitable in a formal environment by modern English speakers, and it may be considered ] or offensive in some situations. ''Fart'' can be used as a ] or a ].<ref></ref> The immediate roots are in the Middle English words "ferten", or "farten"; which is akin to the Old High German word "ferzan" meaning 'to break wind'. Other roots lie in old Norse, Greek and Sanskrit. The word "fart" has been incorporated into the ] and ] of a number of occupations, including computing.

	''Fart'' is sometimes used as a nonspecific ] ], often to refer to 'an irritating or foolish person', and potentially an elderly person, described as an 'old fart'. This may be taken as an insult when used in the second or third person, but can potentially be a term of endearment, or an example of self deprecatory humour when used in the first person.<ref></ref>

	==Usage history==
	===Indo-European origins===
	The English word ''fart'' is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary. Its ] pedigree is confirmed by the many ] words in other ]: It is cognate with ] ''πέρδομαι'' (perdomai), ] ''pēdĕre'', ] ''pardate'', ] ''pərəδaiti'', and ] ''пердеть'' (perdet'), all of which mean the same thing. Like most Indo-European roots in the ], it was altered by ], so that Indo-European ''/p/'' > ''/f/'', and ''/d/'' > ''/t/'', as the ] cognate ''furzen'' also manifests.<ref>] (4th edition, 2000)</ref><ref>''Dictionnaire Hachette de la Langue Française'', (Hachette, 1995) ISBN 0-317-45629-6</ref><ref>T. G. Tucker, ''Etymological Dictionary of Latin'', (Halle, 1931, repr. Ares Publishers, 1985) ISBN 0-89005-172-0</ref>

	The word ''fart'' in ] occurs in ]'s "]" (one of the '']''). In the tale (which is told by a bawdy miller as a group of pilgrims travel to Canterbury), Absolon has already been tricked into kissing Alison's buttocks when he is expecting to kiss her face. Her boyfriend Nicholas hangs his ] out of a window, hoping to trick Absolon into kissing his buttocks in turn and then passes gas in the face of his rival.

	==Vulgarity and offensiveness==

	In certain circles the word is considered merely a common ] with an often ]ous ]. For example, a person may be referred to as a 'fart', or an 'old fart', not necessarily depending on the person's age. This may convey the sense that a person is overly boring or fussy and be intended as an insult, mainly when used in the second or third person. For example '"he's a boring old fart!" However the word may be used as a colloquial term of ] or a in an attempt at humorous self-deprecation, (e.g., in such phrases as "I know I'm just an old fart" or "you do like to art about!"). 'Fart' is often only used as a term of endearment when the subject is personally well known to the user. In both cases though, it tends to refer to personal habits or traits that the user considers to be a negative feature of the subject, even when it is a self-reference. For example, when concerned that a person is being overly methodical they might say 'I know I'm being an old fart', potentially to forestall negative thoughts and opinions in other. When used in an attempt to be offensive, the word is still considered vulgar, but it remains a mild example of such an insult.

	===Modern usage===
	By the early twentieth century, the word "fart" had come to be considered rather vulgar in most English-speaking cultures. For a long time, the word was forbidden from the public airwaves in the ] by the ]. {{Fact\|date=February 2007}} While not one of ]'s original ], he noted in a later routine that the word ''fart'' , ought to be added to "the list" of words that were not acceptable (for broadcast) in any context which have non-offensive meanings).<ref>http://www.georgecarlin.com/dirty/dirty3.html </ref>

	==Changing attitudes==
	With the rise of ] and changing social mores in general, the word fart is (in ]) frequently heard in the broadcast media. It is also now found in such places as children's literature, such as the '']'' series of children's books, Walter Munsch's ''Good Families Don't'' and '']'' by Shinta Cho. While still considered impolite in some social contexts, much of the stigma surrounding the word has disappeared.

	==In other usage==
	===As a verb phrase===
	Following on from 'fart' being used to refer to an irritating or foolish person, the verb phrase 'fart around', meaning to spend time foolishly or aimlessly is also utilised. Again this can be in a humorous attempt at a term of endearment, or as an insult.<ref></ref> The implication is that the person is being a 'fart', and otherwise is wasting time, or achieving little.

	===As a lapse in concentration===
	The term 'brain fart', often used as a synonym for a 'senior moment', or a momentary lapse in concentration or occurrence of forgetfulness, such as an ]. It is a more modern usage, similar in derivation to the term fart to denote uselessness or a period of low achievement. In some cases, particularly the corporate world, it may be used to describe a situation where a person has spoken out of turn to a superior figure. This usage implies a momentary lack of forethought and a break in good sense, which may be colloquially explained away as the result of a 'brain fart'.<ref></ref>

	===Other usages===
	Fart has been used to name ], an example being a 'Duck fart', playing on a humorous reference to flatulance as an example of ] <ref></ref> It has also been used in the term 'fart sack', military slang for a bed or ].<ref></ref>

	==References==
	{{reflist}}
	{{sourcesstart}}
	*''Fecal Matters in Early Modern Literature and Art: Studies in Skeetology''. J Persels, R Ganim - 2004 (Chap. 1: The Honorable Art of Farting in Continental Renaissance)
	{{sourcesend}}

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Revision as of 19:25, 1 October 2007

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