Twat

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The word twat has various meanings, dependent upon regional dialect. Although its main meaning in British English is usually that of 'idiot' or 'stupid/idiotic/tasteless' (male person), it is understood in American English (and elsewhere including Britain) as a vulgar synonym for the human vulva,[1] vagina, or clitoris, and is used as a derogatory epithet.

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[edit] Pronunciation

In British English, "twat" is often pronounced /twæt/ (to rhyme with bat). In other areas (e.g. Australia, New Zealand and North America) it is also pronounced /twɒt/ (to rhyme with watt), as was common in English usage in the past.

[edit] Origins

The word possibly originates from the Old Norse þveit meaning cut, slit, or forest clearing.[1]

[edit] Historical usage

Robert Browning famously misused the term in his 1841 poem "Pippa Passes", believing it to be an item of nun's clothing:[2]

Then owls and bats
Cowls and twats
Monks and nuns in a cloister's moods
Adjourn to the oak-stump pantry

Its meaning was in reality the same then as now, Browning's misconception probably having arisen from a line in a 1660 satirical poem, Vanity of Vanities:

They talk't of his having a Cardinalls Hat
They'd send him as soon an Old Nuns Twat

Another mistaken (or perhaps dialectal) use was in Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1870 science fiction novel The Coming Race, in an apparent satire on Darwin:

Among the pithy sayings which, according to tradition, the philosopher bequeathed to posterity in rhythmical form and sententious brevity, this is notably recorded: "Humble yourselves, my descendants; the father of your race was a 'twat' (tadpole): exalt yourselves, my descendants, for it was the same Divine Thought which created your father that develops itself in exalting you."

[edit] Usage

Although sometimes used as a reference to the female genitalia, the word twat is more often used in various other ways:

  • As a derogatory insult - 'you twat'
  • A fool, synonymous with the word twit - 'You are a real twat and a half'. Often used in the UK without any offence intended[3].
  • One who behaves in a childish, extroverted manner to the annoyance of others - 'He can be an annoying twat sometimes'
  • To express annoyance - 'I caught my twatting knackers in it!'
  • To hit something (or someone) hard or violently - 'I twatted him one'
  • To become drunk or otherwise intoxicated - 'Let's get twatted'

Note that in these contexts the word carries far less force than it does in its usage as a synonym for female genitalia.

  • Sometimes used as a satirical abbreviation for the War on Terror (TWAT = The War Against Terror)

[edit] Cultural references

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Road sign pointing to Twatt, Shetland which was rated no. 4 of the most vulgar-sounding names in Rude Britain, along with its Orkney counterpart.
Road sign pointing to Twatt, Shetland which was rated no. 4 of the most vulgar-sounding names in Rude Britain, along with its Orkney counterpart.
  • Although the term was not notable enough to be included in George Carlin's original seven dirty words, it was one of three words (the others being fart and turd) that later made his slightly expanded 10-word version. Carlin explained that part of the word's allure lay in the fact that - unlike snatch, box, and pussy - twat had no meanings other than reference to female genitalia. He also used it in a sports cheer during a standup routine: "Rat shit, bat shit, dirty old twat. Sixty-nine assholes tied in a knot. Hooray, lizard shit, fuck!"
  • Dane Cook also uses the term twat in his comedy routine "Nothing Fights" from the comedy album "Retaliation".
  • The word is used numerous times by Brian Posehn in the pre-show section of the comedy film Jesus Is Magic, and Sarah Silverman later uses it in a song, referencing three popular actresses she considers unsuitable for her show.
  • In November of 2007, the Sony corporation advertised a carrying case for digital cameras which they had named the TWA/T on their web site. After realising their mistake, they quickly renamed the carrying case the TWA/Brown.[1]
  • Featured in the Mike Nichols film Closer (starring Jude Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman, and Julia Roberts) when Jude Law, pretending to be a woman (Anna) in a sex chat room, says to Clive Owen, "All hail the Sultan of Twat."
  • In the recently released video game Grand Theft Auto IV, the name the cyber cafe chain that the character Niko is able to use is called "TW@". This was also the name of a cyber cafe in Grand Theft Auto III.
  • A common colloquialism for and amongst field telecommunications personnel in the United States Marine Corps is Tactical Wire Assault Team, abbreviated as T.W.A.T.
  • In an Ashes To Ashes episode broadcast 6 March 2008, Gene Hunt used the word 'twat' in a description of a person.
  • In the George of the Jungle episode "Don't Thank Me", Dr. Scott says, "Invisibility Potion? There is no such thing you twat!"
  • In the Music from Chicago, the song "Class" (not in film) sung by Catherine Zeta-Jones/Queen Latifah has the lyrics "Every Guy is a Snot, Every Girl is a "Twat".

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Dictionary definition and etymology of "twat"
  2. ^ Mark Liberman (2005-01-19). Twat v. Browning. Language Log. Retrieved on 2005-07-30.
  3. ^ BBC - h2g2 - The Origins and Common Usage of British Swear-words