How funny is this one, right? We don't see it coming back though!
This polite term for engaging in sexual relations sounds magnificent and should definitely be brought back from the 1800s to the present day.
The Victorians did have some of the most brilliant euphemisms for sex, and this one is no exception.
We're not sure where this one came from, but taking a break to have some ice cream in bed sounds like a great idea!
Sources: (Bustle) (Mental Floss)
A tiff is used to describe an argument with someone, but also eating or drinking between meals. It's also 1800's slang for a "quickie."
Flyers were actually shoes, so this is a reference to having sex without taking one's shoes off, or indeed one's clothes.
A ball of yarn has been used as a symbol of virginity. There's even a folk song called 'The Little Ball of Yarn.'
This euphemism for sex dates back to the 1920s. A song called 'Makin' Whoopee' actually became a hit back in the late '20s.
The four quarters have nothing to do with coins. Instead, they are reference to parts of the body. As for the spit, it's a (rather phallic) reference to the stick used to cook over fire.
To haul someone's ashes can mean beating someone up, but it can also mean having sex.
Bushy Park is an actual park in Richmond upon Thames, England. Perhaps this is a reference to prostitutes that used to work in the area in Victorian times.
This hilarious expression appears in the 16th-century book series 'Gargantua and Pantagruel' by François Rabelais.
Riding St. George or playing at St. George is a reference to the story of St. George and the dragon. It essentially means the 'woman on top' position.
A hogshead is not a pig's head. It's actually a very large cask/barrel where liquid is held (i.e. wine, cider, etc.).
The word Paphian pertains to the city of Paphos on Cyprus, sacred to Aphrodite (the goddess of love and sex). Paphian has, therefore, a sexual connotation.
Turning animal hide into leather is labor intensive. So is keeping leather well maintained and smooth. Sounds like an intense and long love session to us!
This saying dates all the way back to William Shakespeare's 1604 play 'Measure for Measure.' This euphemism has been interpreted in many ways. Was the playwright talking about giving a lady pleasure using one's hand?
Churning butter requires vigorous effort and repetition; a bit like sex, sometimes.
Grinding corn was actually a pretty brutal process back in the day, where a stone would be used to pound corn repeatedly...
We're not sure where this one comes from, but some sources date the expression back to the 1500s.
Because there's no point having children's stockings at home and no kids to wear them, right?
What is a crupper, you ask? Well, it's a sort of strap that is buckled to the tail of a horse to prevent the saddle from sliding forward. This also keeps the horse's tail erect.
This old euphemism is a nod to the Roman goddess of love and fertility, Venus.
When the sheets shake, you know you're having a good time!
How can a woman get her gown stained green? By rolling in the grass with a lover, of course.
This not-so-romantic expression is actually used by Iago in William Shakespeare's 'Othello.'
This is actually a gambling metaphor used as an euphemism for sex. It was mostly used by men.
Sex has been a taboo topic in most cultures for many centuries, and English-speaking countries are no exception. Even just mentioning certain words was frowned upon, so people found ways to make references to sex without actually using explicit words. Some of these euphemisms date back to medieval times, others go all the way up to the 20th century. Indeed, we continue to use numerous euphemisms for sex in this day and age, but these historic ones are certainly quite remarkable, and pretty hilarious, too!
Curious? Click through the following gallery and pick out your favorite historic euphemism for sex.
Hilarious ways throughout history that people talked about sex
Are you up for playing nug-a-nug?
LIFESTYLE Language
Sex has been a taboo topic in most cultures for many centuries, and English-speaking countries are no exception. Even just mentioning certain words was frowned upon, so people found ways to make references to sex without actually using explicit words. Some of these euphemisms date back to medieval times, others go all the way up to the 20th century. Indeed, we continue to use numerous euphemisms for sex in this day and age, but these historic ones are certainly quite remarkable, and pretty hilarious, too!
Curious? Click through the following gallery and pick out your favorite historic euphemism for sex.