Wicked Words: A Treasury of Curses, Insults, Put-Downs, and Other Formerly Unprintable Terms from Anglo-Saxon Times to the Present

If you've ever wondered where some of our "bad words" come from (or even what they meant!), then this is the book for you. Highly readable, extremely comprehensive, and always entertaining, Hugh Rawson's 'Wicked Words' is a must-have for anyone curious about language, society, history, and the fine art of insulting your fellow man. There's careful research (lays to rest the old rumour about 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' being the source of a well-known dirty word) mixed with sly humor. A word of caution: Rawson covers even the most taboo words in the English language, so an open mind is a necessity. And you'll want to think twice before letting your kids look at it.