What words have changed common meaning?

[theelectricnorth]

I am currently watching White Christmas, and it has got me thinking about words that have changed what people would first think of when they hear it, compared to what they would have thought 50+ years ago (or any time really).

For example, according to merriam-webster dictionary, 'gay' means:

1. Of, relating to, or characterised by sexual or romantic attraction to people of one's same sex
2. Happily excited

Now, most people I know, these days, will automatically relate 'gay' to definition number 1, however this wasn't the case x many years ago. So, I was wondering, what other words do you know that have changed 'main' definition over time?

(The part of the film that got my brain going in case anyone was wondering... Judy and Phil were talking about engagement:
Judy: Of course, it's got to be a man.
Phil: That's an absolute must.
Judy: No, no, no. I mean a mature man. You know, one with talent and experience. One that's witty, gay, charming, attractive.)

I remember using the word 'queer' in its original sense in NI when I was growing up (I'm 56). Maybe because we also say 'quare' a lot (which likely comes from queer) as in 'quare good craic'! Sadly we had plenty of other insults for homosexuals and 'queer' wouldn't necessarily have been top of the list.

I had a very brightly coloured party dress when I was about 10 and my mum referred to it as 'gay'. It was my gay dress. As opposed to my other dresses which were plain. Nobody batted an eyelid.

I’m in my fifties and remember queer being used in its original sense.

If I recall, if you said someone was queer, you perhaps meant effeminate rather than homosexual . in those days, the only gays you saw in the media were people like John Inman, ie on the camp side of being gay.

I do also remember gay being used to mean jolly etc but perhaps the homosexual use was taking over. Maybe it was a generational thing, older people used the original meaning more, plus in older literature etc it had the old usage.

Anyone watch the Flintstones (1960-66) in their childhood? The end line of the theme song was "we'll have a gay old time". I presume the later meaning wasn't widely popular, or it wouldn't have been used.

I still hear people my age (50s) and older saying that they're a bit queer today, if they have a minor ailment.

In the 1970s/80s right wing newspapers used to froth about ‘the loony left’. In the 90s/2000s the terminology changed to ‘politically correct’ or PC (still sometimes used in its negative, as in ‘non-PC’ to describe reactionary views). Now it’s ‘woke’. In 20 years’ time they’ll have invented a new name for it.

Anyone else had The Flintstones as their ear worm tune today…?

I have now it’s been mentioned.

@GarlicMaybeNot like Suffrage meaning being allowed to vote! Language is lovely :)

Apologies to the ear-worm sufferers! 😄

🤣🤣🤣

I still hear people my age (50s) and older saying that they're a bit queer today, if they have a minor ailment

That would be me.