asshole
Meaning
A stupid, irritating, or contemptible person
Vulgar slang for the anus
Structure
Usage
He was driving like a complete asshole, swerving across all the lanes.
She told her boss exactly what she thought of him and called him an arrogant asshole.
The movie's villain is a caricature of a greedy corporate asshole.
Etymology
The word is a compound formed within English from the nouns "ass" and "hole." Its literal anatomical sense, referring to the anus, is a straightforward descriptive term combining "ass" (a vulgar term for buttocks) and "hole." The transition to its primary modern meaning as a severe term of contempt for a person leverages the strong vulgarity of the anatomical reference. The semantic logic equates an objectionable person with the most despised bodily orifice, intensifying the insult through crude imagery. This pejorative usage is a relatively recent development in American English, solidifying in the mid-20th century.
Analysis
- ass: From Old English assa, a Germanic borrowing from Latin asinus (donkey). In this compound, it functions as a derogatory term for a foolish person. - hole: From Old English hol (a hollow place, cavity, pit). In this compound, it functions literally as an opening or orifice.