Re: School stories

On 03/04/26 21:10, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 02/04/2026 20:33, rbowman wrote:

>>> Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the
>>> older ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was
>>> a sexual element.
>>
>> It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out. 'bestiality'
>> (masturbation) was an expulsion event.
>
> I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

That's the current meaning, but it had a broader meaning within living
memory.

"Buggery" has had a similar shifting meaning. Originally a bugger was a
heretic. (Unless you believe the theory that it was a variant of Bulgar,
from the supposed habits of Bultarians.) Then it came to mean unnatural
intercourse with man or beast, where "unnatural" was open to wide
interpretation. By now it has settled down to a more restricted meaning.

-- 
Peter Moylan       [email protected]    http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW