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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1534 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for April 26, 2026

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‘Bloody’ is supposedly the descendent of a minced oath for ‘by Our Lady’. I don’t know if it’s true or not.

I understand this to be a folk etymology.

Similar minced oaths do exist - my mother was very fond of "strewth!" while I was growing up, a mincing of "God's truth!" - but I believe 'bloody' predates any plausible minced origin.

Sounds plausible.

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