tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348081528816544695.post1941563608426744795..comments2023-06-04T08:54:41.825-04:00Comments on Cartophilia: Maps and Map Memorabilia: Britain's Secret Weapon Against InvasionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348081528816544695.post-14682523061729392362009-07-09T00:55:27.566-04:002009-07-09T00:55:27.566-04:00Eww.
Meanwhile, I learn from Wikipedia today tha...Eww. <br /><br />Meanwhile, I learn from Wikipedia today that a common street name in England used to be "Gropecunt." It isn't one of those funny Anglo place names that happens to sound silly; the name derived from the places that prostitutes used to work. So it's pretty literal. But it fell out of favor as tastes changed.<br /><br />My point being: we tend to think of language becoming more crude and less reserved over time, but it isn't necessarily the case. All the Gropecunts were changed to "Grape Lanes" and such by the 16th Century, and I don't think you'd see such a farty cartoon published in the mainstream press today.Chachyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11411695462568128245noreply@blogger.com