ANST - Merkin?

[Dennis Grace]

Salut Cozyns,

Pug responded to my:
>>> >Okay, recently we found out what a merkin is. I'd like to know *why*.
>>> >Anyone know? Gio? (Since you seemed to know the most about them.)
>>> That depends.  What do you mean by "why?"  Do you mean "why do we have a
>>> heraldic term for the female pubic patch?" or just "why is it called that?"

with

>>That's odd. The dictionary we checked had it listed as a wig for the
>>female pubic area.

And Jerry responds:

>Webster's Dictionary has that as the original meaning, but "afterwards"
>merkin is defined as the mop used to clean a cannon.

Webster's is woefully inadequate to the task of etymological research.  The
use of *merkin* to describe a pubic wig doesn't appear until the 17th
century.  The use of merkin to describe the female pudendum appears
slightly earlier (1535, according to the OED).  Heraldically, I believe the
term post-dates the SCA 1600 cutoff date.

Now, if Pug was asking why 17th century needed a pubic wig, I have no idea.
Of course, I don't understand why everybody seems to need those Nike
swooshes on every article of clothing.

lo vostre por vos servir
Sir Lyonel Oliver Grace

Dennis G. Grace
PostModern Medievalist
Assistant Instructor
Division of Rhetoric and Composition
University of Texas

Micel yfel deth se unwritere
                                        --Aelfric of York (a really fun guy)


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