I wish I could remember what popular 20th century novel has two women talking to each other and one insists on how much of a slut she is, meaning, she doesn't clean around the house. Any other meaning of the word "slut" isn't even considered. I'm thinking, The Bell Jar? Let me dig through it...
I'm just trying to figure this out, "slut" changed meaning very recently, didn't it?
@DialMforMara @eskay8 I long ago lost access to the OED 😭
Dammit, it's not The Bell Jar. That definitely has the sexual meaning of "slut" in it.
@JordiGH you may find this interesting https://www.etymonline.com/word/slut
@JordiGH EtymOnline is one of my favorite sites
@jordyd I'm prettttty sure I read it in a 20th century novel. EtymOnline is quite vague upon this point. Its only citation is way too old!
@JordiGH It dates the modern meaning to 1966, which doesn't preclude the rest of the 20th century
@JordiGH
Oh, I remember a friend reading this passage to me!
@emily I hope we're thinking of the same one. I want to say, it's something like two New York women meeting, maybe professionals, and one of them says "I am such a slut" or "but I really am a slut". Very unapologetic about not cleaning her flat.
I hope I didn't make up this scene at all.
@JordiGH
I just texted my friend. It's an author she's into but I've never read, but I can't remember the name. I hope I'm not hallucinating too.
@JordiGH
Barbara Pym?
@emily Yesssssssss, it's Excellent Women!
Thank you thank you!
@JordiGH
Yeeeah!
I need to read that.
@emily I can't believe you found that from my vague description.
@JordiGH
:)
My friend was SO into Pym for a while. And for some reason that scene stuck in my head.
@emily I think the scene sticks out because the setting is so modern but the usage of the word seems so contrastive with today's usage. That must be why.
@JordiGH
Makes sense!
@JordiGH No. Both meanings go back to the 15th century.
@JordiGH I have definitely seen 'slut' used to mean 'slovenly' w/o anything sexual being attached to it, but I haven't the foggiest idea where. I feel like it was earlier than 20th century but not by much.