here’s the female side of the story, with the most common examples:
1. Fanny
- Origin: Diminutive of Frances.
- Shift to slang: In British English, fanny = vulva. In American English, fanny = buttocks.
- Why: Probably from the association with women’s names (a “generic woman”), and then narrowed to refer to body parts.
- Note: Still used as a real name, but much less common now because of the slang meaning.
2. Pussy
- Origin: From Middle English puse/puss = affectionate term for a cat.
- Shift to slang: Cats were seen as soft, furry, and linked with femininity → by the 1600s, pussy was used for female genitals.
- Extra use: Also became slang for a timid person (like “scaredy-cat”).
3. Virginia / Ginny
- Origin: From the female name Virginia.
- Shift to slang: Because virginity and Virginia sound alike, the name sometimes got associated with sexuality and purity. In some contexts, “virginia” has been slang for vagina.
4. Cunny (archaic)
- Origin: From Old French con = vulva (same root as modern French con).
- Shift to slang: Became cunny in Middle English → vulgar word for female genitals.
- Note: Mostly died out in modern English, but survives in old literature.
5. Fanny / Tottie / Dolly (other diminutives)
- Many pet names for women (like Dolly, Tottie, Fanny) became slang for female genitals or women themselves, often in a sexualized way.
⚖️ Pattern (same as with male terms):
- Women’s names/diminutives → slang for genitals (Fanny, Dolly).
- Animal/affectionate terms → slang (Pussy from cat).
- Old descriptive words → slang (Cunny from Old French con).
Here’s a side-by-side table showing how male vs. female genital slang developed:
🔹 Male vs Female Genital Slang Origins
| Category | Male (Penis) | Female (Vulva/Vagina) |
|---|---|---|
| From Names | – Dick (Richard) – Peter (common male name) – Johnson (“son of John”) | – Fanny (Frances) – Dolly/Tottie (diminutives of Dorothy/Charlotte etc.) – Virginia (linked with virginity) |
| From Animals | – Cock (rooster = virility, shape) | – Pussy (cat = soft, feminine, affectionate) |
| From Descriptive Words | – Prick (Old English pricc = point/stab) | – Cunny (Old French con = vulva) |
| Other Influences | – Willy (childish diminutive for penis) – Tool/Member (metaphors) | – Fanny (also = buttocks in US) – Honey pot/Box (metaphors) |
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Men’s names → penis slang (Dick, Peter, Johnson, Willy).
- Women’s names/diminutives → vulva slang (Fanny, Dolly, Tottie).
- Animal metaphors: cock (rooster) for men, pussy (cat) for women.
- Descriptive/shape words: prick (pointy) vs cunny (Old French word for vulva).