Word Origin & History
poontangc.1910, probably via New Orleans Creole, from Fr. putain "prostitute," from O.Fr. pute "whore," probably from fem. of V.L. *puttus (cf. O.It. putta "girl"), from L. putus, with derogatory sense. But also possibly from O.Fr. put, from L. putidus "stinking" on notion of the "foulness" of harlotry, or for
EXPANDmore literal reasons (among the 16c.-17c. slang terms for "whore" in Eng. were polecat and fling-stink). Shortened form poon is recorded from 1969.
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