Originally just the name for the donkey, this word had no filthy connotations until about the late 1700s, early 1800s, when the pronunciation of true (English) word for the backside, "arse", had changed enough to sound much like "ass", seeing as how the English often don't pronounce the "r" when they speak.
To avoid any unwanted baggage associated with the word, the name of the ass was changed to "donkey". As a result, the word "arse" has disappeared from American vocabulary.
Although before World War I they were similar, the British pronunciations of "ass" /æs/ and "arse" /ɑːs/ are now very different.
To avoid any unwanted baggage associated with the word, the name of the ass was changed to "donkey". As a result, the word "arse" has disappeared from American vocabulary.
Although before World War I they were similar, the British pronunciations of "ass" /æs/ and "arse" /ɑːs/ are now very different.
-"Joe, how do you say donkey in Spanish?"
-"Burro."
-"How would you spell it?"
-"B-U-R-R-O-W."
-"... it seems that you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground."
-"Burro."
-"How would you spell it?"
-"B-U-R-R-O-W."
-"... it seems that you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground."
by Lorelili January 10, 2006
Get the ass mug.
Related Words
ass
• ass pirate
• ass crack
• ass rape
• ass butt
• ass blaster
• ass water
• ass cakes
• ass licker
• ass blast
by Notorious M.A.X. October 3, 2005
Get the ass mug.The buttocks, one of the most adored parts of the female body. Considered by many men to be better than boobs
by brian043 June 28, 2008
Get the Ass mug.by Urban Dictionary May 13, 2005
Get the ass mug.