arse

arse
\ \ [OE] Arse is a word of considerable antiquity, and its relatives are found practically from end to end of the geographical range of the Indo-European language family, from Old Irish err ‘tail’ in the west to Armenian or ‘rump’. Its Indo-European source was *órsos, which produced the Germanic form *arsaz: hence German arsch, Dutch aars, and, via Old English ærs, English arse. The euphemistic American spelling ass appears to be as recent as the 1930s, although there is one isolated (British) record of it from 1860.
\ \ The term wheatear, for a thrushlike European bird, is an alteration over time of a Middle English epithet ‘white arse’, after its white rump feathers.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Arse — is an informal English term referring to the buttocks, which is commonly used in English speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, parts of Canada and former parts of the British Empire. In the United… …   Wikipedia

  • Arse — ([aum]rs), n. [AS. ears; [ae]rs; akin to OHG. ars. G. arsch, D. aars, Sw. ars, Dan. arts, Gr. ? (cf. o yra tail).] The buttocks, or hind part of an animal; the posteriors; the fundament; the bottom. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • arse — [ ars ] noun count BRITISH OFFENSIVE someone s ASS …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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  • arse — [ärs] n. [ME ars < OE ears, ærs < IE base * orsos > Gr oura, tail] Brit. the buttocks; ass: now a vulgar term …   English World dictionary

  • arse — /as / (say ahs) Colloquial (taboo) –noun 1. the rump; bottom; buttocks; posterior. 2. a. the bottom, base or tail end of something. b. the seat of a pair of pants. 3. a. a despised person. b. a fool. 4. impudence: what arse! 5. one s body or …  

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