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'{{About|the word used as an intensifier}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}} '''Bloody''', as an [[adverb]], is a commonly used [[expletive attributive]] ([[intensifier]]) in [[British English]], [[Australian English]], and a number of other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] nations. '''Bloody''' is considered profanity citing its origin from the phrase "of generational" or "of family". Often meaning of a bad generational trait. For eg - bloody fool refers to 'coming from a family of fools' etc. It has been used as an intensive since at least the 1670s.<ref>Sterfania Biscetti, The diachronic development of ''bloody'': a case study in historical pragmatics. In Richard Dury, Maurizio Gotti, Marina Dossena (eds.) "English Historical Linguistics 2006 Volume 2: Lexical and semantic change". Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. 2008, pg 55.</ref> Considered "respectable" until about 1750, it was heavily tabooed during c. 1750&ndash;1920, considered equivalent to heavily obscene or profane speech.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} Public use continued to be seen as controversial until the 1960s, but since the later 20th century, the word has become a comparatively mild expletive or intensifier. In [[American English]], the word is uncommon and is seen by American audiences as a stereotypical marker of British English, without any significant obscene or profane connotation. ==Origin== Use of the adjective ''bloody'' as a profane intensifier predates the 18th century. Its ultimate origin is unclear, and several hypotheses have been suggested. It may be a direct loan of Dutch ''bloote'', used "in the adverbial sense of entire, complete, pure, naked", which was suggested by Ker (1837) to have been "transformed into ''bloody'', in the consequently absurd phrases of ''bloody good'', ''bloody bad'', ''bloody thief'', ''bloody angry'', etc., where it simply implies completely, entirely, purely, very, truly, and has no relation to either blood or murder, except by corruption of the word."<ref>John Bellenden Ker, An Essay on the Archæology of our Popular Phrases and Nursery Rhymes, London:Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Co., 1837, pg 36.</ref> The word "blood" in Dutch and German is used as part of [[minced oath]]s, in abbreviation of expressions referring to "God's blood", i.e. [[Passion (Christianity)|the Passion]] or the [[Eucharist]]. [[Ernest Weekley]] (1921) relates English usage to imitation of purely intensive use of Dutch ''bloed'' and German ''Blut'' in the early modern period. A popularly reported theory suggested euphemistic derivation from the phrase ''by Our Lady''. The contracted form ''by'r Lady'' is common in [[Shakespeare]]'s plays around the turn of the 17th century, and [[Jonathan Swift]] about 100 years later writes both "it grows by'r Lady cold" and "it was bloody hot walking to-day"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Works_of_the_Rev._Jonathan_Swift/Volume_15/Journal_to_Stella_%E2%80%93_Letter_24 |title=The Journal to Stella, by Jonathan Swift : Letter 24 |publisher=Etext.library.adelaide.edu.au |date=1711 }}</ref> suggesting that ''bloody'' and ''by'r Lady'' had become exchangeable generic intensifiers. However, [[Eric Partridge]] (1933) describes the supposed derivation of ''bloody'' as a further contraction of ''by'r lady'' as "phonetically implausible". <!-- The immediately following text was apparently removed from the rendered content of the article but preserved for the attention of editors: {{ [[Geoffrey Hughes]] in ''Swearing: A social history of foul langyuage, oaths and profanity in English'' ([[Wiley-Blackwell|Blackwell]], 1991), points out that "by my lady" is not an adjective whereas ''bloody'' is, and suggests that the slang use of the term started with ''bloody drunk'' meaning "fired up and ready for a fight". }} In contrast, *this* immediately following text seems to be a comment by an editor who removed the previous brace-enclosed material from the rendered portion of the article text: {{ not sure what this is supposed to add other than that this author in 1991(!) was not even aware of the adverbial use of ''by'r lady'' just cited }} If i remember to, i'll copy this inside-a-comment discussion (begun here, in an abuse of the comment-markup facility by an as yet unidentified colleaague, and continued here by my own somewhat milder abuse) to where it belongs, on the accompanying talk page, using a better interface, and with detailed info on the edit history of this comment. -- User Jerzy, 2018 Jan 3, 9-PM-ish, (US)EDT --> According to ''Rawson's dictionary of Euphemisms'' (1995), attempts to derive ''bloody'' from minced oaths for "by our lady" or "God's blood" are based on the attempt to explain the word's extraordinary shock power in the 18th to 19th centuries, but they disregard that the earliest records of the word as an intensifier in the 17th to early 18th century do not reflect any taboo or profanity. It seems more likely, according to Rawson, that the taboo against the word arose secondarily, perhaps because of an association with [[menstruation]].<ref>"More likely, the taboo stemmed from the fear that many people have of blood and, in the minds of some, from an association with menstrual bleeding. Whatever, the term was debarred from polite society during the whole of the nineteenth century." Rawson (1995).</ref> The Oxford English Dictionary prefers the theory that it arose from aristocratic rowdies known as "bloods", hence "bloody drunk" means "drunk as a blood".<ref>https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bloody</ref> ==History of use== Until at least the early 18th century, the word was used innocuously. It is used as an intensifier without apparent implication of profanity by 18th-century authors such as [[Henry Fielding]] and [[Jonathan Swift]] (''“It was bloody hot walking today”'' in 1713) and [[Samuel Richardson]] (''“He is bloody passionate.”'' in 1742). After about 1750 the word assumed more [[profanity|profane]] connotations. [[A Dictionary of the English Language|Johnson (1755)]] already calls it "very vulgar", and the original [[Oxford English Dictionary]] article of 1888 comments the word is "now constantly in the mouths of the lowest classes, but by respectable people considered 'a horrid word', on par with obscene or profane language." On the opening night of [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s comedy ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'' in 1914, [[Mrs Patrick Campbell]], in the role of Eliza Doolittle, created a sensation with the line "Walk! Not bloody likely!" and this led to a fad for using "Pygmalion" itself as a pseudo-oath, as in "Not Pygmalion likely",<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/apps26/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=106299&section=filmfact |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207103513/http://www.channel4.com/apps26/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=106299&section=filmfact |archive-date=7 February 2009 |dead-url=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwidewords.org/topicalwords/tw-blo1.htm |title=Bloody |publisher=World Wide Words |date=2006-04-01 |accessdate=2013-05-24}}</ref> and ''bloody'' was referred to as "the Shavian adjective" in polite society. The character Geoffrey Fisher in [[Keith Waterhouse]]'s play ''[[Billy Liar]]'' (1959) is notable for his continual use of the word "bloody". Waterhouse's stage directions make it clear that if this is considered offensive the word should be omitted entirely and not [[bowdlerisation|bowdlerised]] to ''ruddy'' or some other word.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The use of 'bloody' in adult UK broadcasting aroused controversy in the 1960s and 1970s, but it has since become a mild expletive and is used more freely.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} ==Usage outside the UK== ''Bloody'' has always been a very common part of [[Australian English|Australian speech]] and has not been considered profane there for some time. The word was dubbed "the Australian adjective" by ''[[The Bulletin (Australian periodical)|The Bulletin]]'' on 18 August 1894. One Australian performer, [[Kevin Bloody Wilson]], has even made it his middle name. Also in Australia, the word ''bloody'' is frequently used as a verbal hyphen, or infix, correctly called [[tmesis]] as in "fanbloodytastic". In the 1940s an Australian divorce court judge held that "the word ''bloody'' is so common in modern parlance that it is not regarded as swearing". Meanwhile, [[Neville Chamberlain]]'s government was fining Britons for using the word in public.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} The word as an expletive is seldom used in the [[United States|United States of America]]. In the US the term is usually used when the intention is to mimic an Englishman. Because it is not perceived as profane in [[American English]], "bloody" is not censored when used in American television and film, for example in the 1961 film ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' the actor [[Richard Harris]] at one point says: ''"You can't even see the bloody cave, let alone the bloody guns. And anyway, we haven't got a bloody bomb big enough to smash that bloody rock..."'' - but ''bloody'' was replaced with ''ruddy'' for British audiences of the time.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} The term is used somewhat frequently in Canada, especially in the provinces of [[Ontario]] and [[Newfoundland]]. Younger Canadians generally do not consider the term to be offensive; however, older Canadians of British origin might. In [[Singapore]], the word ''bloody'' is commonly used as a mild expletive in [[Singlish|Singapore's colloquial English]]. The roots of this expletive derives from the influence and informal language British officers used during the dealing and training of soldiers in the [[Singapore Volunteer Corps]] and the early days of the [[Singapore Armed Forces]]. When more Singaporeans were promoted officers within the Armed Forces, most new local officers applied similar training methods their former British officers had when they were cadets or trainees themselves. This includes some aspects of British Army lingo, like "bloody (something)". When the newly elected Singapore government implemented compulsory conscription, all 18 year old able bodied Singapore males had to undergo training within the Armed Forces. When National servicemen completed their service term, some brought the many expletives they picked up during their service into the civilian world and thus became a part of the common culture in the city state. The word 'bloody' also managed to spread to the north in neighbouring Malaysia, to where the influence of Singapore English has spread. The use of 'bloody' as a substitute for more explicit language increased with the popularity of British and Australian films and television shows aired on local television programmes. The term ''bloody'' in Singapore may not be considered explicit, but its usage is frowned upon in formal settings. The term is frequently used among [[South Africa]]ns in their colloquial English and it is an [[intensifier]]. It is used in both [[wikt:explicit|explicit]] and non-explicit ways. It also spread to [[Afrikaans]] as "bloedige" and is popular amongst all citizens in the country. It is also used by [[Minor (law)|minors]] and is not considered to be offensive. ==Euphemisms== Many substitutions were devised{{year needed|date=November 2015}} to convey the essence of the oath, but with less offence; these included ''bleeding'', ''bleaking'', ''cruddy'', ''smuddy'', ''blinking'', ''blooming'', ''bally'', ''woundy'', '' flaming'' and ''ruddy''. Publications such as newspapers, police reports, and so on may{{year needed|date=November 2015}} print ''b__y'' instead of the full profanity.<ref name="OED">{{Citation|title=Oxford English Dictionary.}}</ref> A spoken language equivalent is ''blankety'' or, less frequently, ''blanked'' or ''blanky''; the spoken words are all variations of ''blank'', which, as a verbal representation of a [[dash]], is used as a [[euphemism]] for a variety of "bad" words.<ref name="OED"/> ==In composition== Use of ''bloody'' as an adverbial or generic intensifier is to be distinguished from its fixed use in the expressions "bloody murder" and "bloody hell". In "bloody murder", it has the original sense of an adjective used literally. The [[King James Version]] of the Bible frequently uses ''bloody'' as an adjective in reference to bloodshed or violent crime, as in "bloody crimes" (Ezekiel 22:2), "Woe to the bloody city" (Ezekiel 24:6, Nahum 3:1). "bloody men" (26:9, Psalms 59:2, 139:19), etc. The expression of "bloody murder" goes back to at least Elizabethan English, as in Shakespeare's ''[[Titus Andronicus]]'' (c. 1591), "bloody murder or detested rape". The expression "scream bloody murder" (in the figurative or desemanticised sense of "to loudly object to something" attested since c. 1860)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/idioms/scream+bloody+murder |title=Idioms Dictionary &#124; Common Idioms and Phrases in English Language &#124; Dictionary.com |publisher=Dictionary.reference.com |date= |accessdate=2013-05-24}}</ref> is now considered American English, while in British English, the euphemistic "blue murder" had replaced "bloody murder" during the period of "bloody" being considered taboo.<ref>[http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-blu4.htm worldwidewords.org]</ref> The expression "bloody [[hell]]" is now used as a (slightly rude) general expression of surprise or as a general intensifier; e.g. "bloody hell" being used repeatedly in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' (2001, [[PG Rating]]). In March 2006 [[Australia]]'s national tourism commission launched an [[advertising campaign]] targeted at potential visitors in several English-speaking countries. The ad sparked controversy because of its ending (in which a cheerful, bikini-clad spokeswoman delivers the ad's call-to-action by saying "...[[so where the bloody hell are you?]]"). In the UK the [[Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre|BACC]] required that a modified version of the ad be shown in the United Kingdom, without the word "bloody",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315091147/http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/bloody-ad-ban-incredibly-ludicrous/2007/03/28/1174761533507.html|title=Brit ban on 'bloody' ad 'incredibly ludicrous' - Travel|last=|first=|date=28 March 2007|website=Sunday Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315091147/http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/bloody-ad-ban-incredibly-ludicrous/2007/03/28/1174761533507.html|archive-date=15 March 2016|dead-url=|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref> but in May 2006, the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|ASA]] ruled that the word ''bloody'' was not an inappropriate marketing tool and the original version of the ad was permitted to air. The longer "bloody hell-hounds" appears to have been at least printable in early 19th century Britain.<ref>so in ''London Theatre: A Collection of the Most Celebrated Dramatic Pieces, Correctly Given, from Copies Used in the Theatres'' Volumes 11-12 (1815), p. 59 "Bloody hell-hounds, I overheard you!"</ref> "Bloody hell's flames" as well as "bloody hell" is reported as a profanity supposedly used by Catholics against Protestants in 1845.<ref> John Ryan, ''Popery unmasked. A narrative of twenty years' Popish persecution'' (1845), p. 44.</ref> <!--It is talked about in a [[limerick (poetry)|limerick]] about the letter H (aitch):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-6dyn/articles/A28637-2004Sep17.html |title=More Honorable Mentions |publisher=Washington Post |date=2004-09-19 |accessdate=2015-06-15}}</ref> <blockquote> Letter aitch, in some tongues, you can tell,<br> Is pronounced not at all, or not well.<br> By the Brits it is rated<br> Their second-most hated,<br> Right after, of course, "bloody ell." </blockquote> --> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4789650.stm BBC News: Australian advert banned on UK TV] *[http://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php?LimerickId=455 Limerick that makes reference to the expression "bloody ell"] [[Category:British slang]] [[Category:Australian slang]] [[Category:New Zealand slang]] [[Category:Profanity]]'