"female intercrural foramen," or, as some 18c. writers refer to it, "the monosyllable," M.E.
cunte "female genitalia," akin to O.N.
kunta, from P.Gmc.
*kunton, of uncertain origin. Some suggest a link with L.
cuneus "wedge," others to PIE base
*geu- "hollow place," still others to PIE
*gwen-, root of
queen and Gk.
gyne "woman." The form is similar to L.
cunnus "female pudenda," which is likewise of disputed origin, perhaps lit. "gash, slit," from PIE
*sker- "to cut," or lit. "sheath," from PIE
*kut-no-, from base
*(s)keu- "to conceal, hide." First known reference in Eng. is said to be c.1230 Oxford or London street name
Gropecuntlane, presumably a haunt of prostitutes. Avoided in public speech since 15c.; considered obscene since 17c. Du. cognate
de kont means "a bottom, an arse." Du. also has attractive poetic slang ways of expressing this part, such as
liefdesgrot, lit. "cave of love," and
vleesroos "rose of flesh." Alternate form
cunny is attested from c.1720 but is certainly much earlier and forced a change in the pronunciation of
coney (q.v.), but it was good for a pun while
coney was still the common word for "rabbit": "A pox upon your Christian cockatrices! They cry, like poulterers' wive