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Why does the word 'fanny' mean something different in the US and UK? How did that happen?
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Luke Davis
Lives in England (1973–present)Author has 460 answers and 307K answer views1y
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No one has a patent for the language, and it is very common for words to change meaning depending who is using them and they do not need to travel so far, it happens even in closer neighbourhoods of the same city.
The word came probably from French. From Old French Franceise, feminine form of Franceis, from Late Latin Franciscus (“Frankish”). A female given name, feminine form of Francis, and the pet form is: Fannie, Fanny, Fran, Francie, Frannie, Franny
In Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, is vulgar and describe the female genitalia.
In Canada and the US is informal the buttocks.
The word fanny is originally a British naval term for a Mess kettle or cooking pot. This British naval slang sense derives from Fanny Adams. Tins of mutton introduced as rations were not liked by the sailors and were taken by them to contain the butchered remains of Fanny Adams who had been brutally murdered and dismembered. The tins were re-used for eating from and cooking with.
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