Faggery
/ˈfæɡəri/noun
An offensive informal term for behavior stereotypically associated with gay men, or for contemptible behavior more generally.
Did you know?The modern slur sense of “faggot” is historically disputed and is not securely derived from the older meaning “bundle of sticks”; confident claims linking it directly to medieval executions are unsupported.
Etymological Timeline
14th Century
Old French
fagot
“A bundle of sticks or twigs, especially one used as fuel.”
14th Century
Middle English
fagot
“A bundle of sticks; the word was borrowed from French.”
16th–17th Century
English
faggot
“A variant spelling of “fagot,” meaning a bundle of sticks or firewood.”
19th Century
American English
faggot
“An offensive term for a homosexual man; the origin of this sense remains uncertain and may not be connected directly to “bundle of sticks.””
20th Century
English
faggery
“A vulgar derivative used for conduct or qualities perceived—usually abusively—as effeminate or homosexual.”