Billingsgate: meaning, definitions and examples

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billingsgate

 

[ ˈbɪlɪŋzɡeɪt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

coarse language

Billingsgate refers to coarse, abusive, or vulgar language. The term is often associated with insults, profanity, and a loud, rude manner of speaking. Historically, it has been used to describe language that is offensive or inappropriate in a polite society. The phrase 'Billingsgate' can also signify a level of verbal aggression that is unwarranted, serving as a marker for crude speech. This term finds its roots in the name of the historic fish market of Billingsgate in London, which was known for its rough and boisterous vendors who were often seen engaging in colorful and offensive language.

Synonyms

abuse, invective, profanity, ravings, vituperation.

Examples of usage

  • His speech was filled with Billingsgate, shocking the audience.
  • Critics labeled her comments as pure Billingsgate, lacking civility.
  • The debate quickly devolved into Billingsgate, with participants hurling insults.
  • The character's dialogue in the play was laden with Billingsgate for comic effect.

Translations

Translations of the word "billingsgate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 linguagem chula

🇮🇳 गाली

🇩🇪 Schimpfwörter

🇮🇩 kata kasar

🇺🇦 нецензурна лексика

🇵🇱 wulgaryzmy

🇯🇵 下品な言葉

🇫🇷 langage grossier

🇪🇸 lenguaje grosero

🇹🇷 argo

🇰🇷 욕설

🇸🇦 لغة بذيئة

🇨🇿 sprostá slova

🇸🇰 vulgárne slová

🇨🇳 粗俗语言

🇸🇮 vulgarnost

🇮🇸 vulgarismi

🇰🇿 бұзылған тіл

🇬🇪 ბრაზილიელი

🇦🇿 dəllək dili

🇲🇽 lenguaje vulgar

Etymology

The term 'Billingsgate' has its origins in the early 17th century and is named after the Billingsgate Fish Market in London, which was notorious for the raucous and often vulgar exchanges among its vendors. This market, located on the River Thames, became a central hub for trade in fish and other seafood. Over time, it was characterized by a culture that embraced coarse language and boisterous interactions, leading to the association of the term with vulgarity and insult. As London evolved, the market itself transformed, but the denotation of 'Billingsgate' as a term for foul language remained in colloquial usage. The phrase has been used in various forms of literature to illustrate the colorful and abrasive nature of speech associated with certain social classes, reinforcing its place in the English language as a descriptor of crude or foul language.