0

I have heard the word fuckstick in a lot of Hollywood movies, most notably in 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

What is this word even meant to convey? An insult? Is it even abusive? Or is just a combination of two random words?

Kosmonaut
  • 50,402
Arjun J Rao
  • 1,972

1 Answers1

7

I wonder if the stick part could have been chosen by analogy with dipstick, which was used as a mild insult starting in the 1920s. (Of course, "Shawshank Redemption" isn't really from that time period, but was written recently by Stephen King, so even if someone from the 1920s wouldn't really have said that, it wouldn't invalidate the theory.) There is no way to really know for sure, unless we ask King himself; and even he might not consciously know why he chose that.

Dipstick can still be used today, but remains very mild as far as insults go. Changing dip to fuck would take that mild insult and make it into something much more offensive. I have certainly heard fuckstick before, but it isn't particularly common compared to other similar insults.

I have to say, as an English speaker, I find it to be one of the more amusing insult constructions involving the word fuck (because it is almost silly), but if said in the right manner by someone in the right situation, could still make the name-receiver quite quite angry and insulted.

As mentioned by Martha, a fuckstick could also be interpreted as a dildo, or something with this sort of sexual connotation.

Kosmonaut
  • 50,402
  • 4
    Interpreted literally, a fuckstick is a dildo. For whatever that's worth. – Marthaª Feb 11 '11 at 17:19
  • 1
    @Martha - or any stick like object used for fucking. – Tester101 Feb 11 '11 at 17:25
  • 2
    It's also possible that "fkstick" could be a contraction of "fcking dispstick", similar to "fktard" being a contraction of "fking retard". Sadly, the "F-Bomb" is surprisingly versatile in its daily usage. – Zoot Feb 11 '11 at 17:34
  • Amusing..? Hilarious! I have to remember that one.. ;) – falstro Feb 11 '11 at 17:42
  • 1
    @Martha: people never call dildos fucksticks though (or do they? I might not be the person to ask). Still I added your mention because certainly there can be a sexually vulgar connotation. – Kosmonaut Feb 11 '11 at 18:09
  • @Kosmonaut: for some reason, I've never had occasion to refer to a dildo in conversation, period. So I wouldn't know. I'm just saying that literally, fuck + stick = stick you fuck with = dildo. – Marthaª Feb 11 '11 at 18:13
  • 1
    @Martha: Well, neither you nor I can make that claim again after today :) – Kosmonaut Feb 11 '11 at 18:36
  • 1
    @Kosmonaut: yeah, where's the brain soap when you need it... – Marthaª Feb 11 '11 at 18:39
  • It is also possible that fuckstick is a phonetic variation of fuckwad, which is a fairly common insult. – oosterwal Feb 12 '11 at 07:54
  • @oosterwal: Probably all of these are correct, depending on the person. – Kosmonaut Feb 12 '11 at 14:10