Fagging?

[rochvelleth]

Apparently, the term 'fag' (for 'cigarette') is dying out, or so some linguists I know are saying. Time for a poll! (And I added a bonus fagging question)

Poll The fagging poll

Comments

[cartesiandaemon]

I don't know if I've still heard "fag=ciggy" but I think it's still wildly understood. Cigarettes seem a lot less common with people I overhear.

I expect/hope fagging is rare/gone now, but the word is still in wide usage, as everyone who didn't go to a posh school assumes everyone who did, did fagging.

[ex_robhu]

If someone told me they'd been behind the bike sheds fagging I'd assume there was some kind of gay orgy going on.

[cartesiandaemon]

If someone *actually* said that I'd assume they were making a pun. But have you heard that phrasing with any of the meanings of fag? I haven't, it sounds artificial with any, and I admit, it sounds like it means "gay orgy"[1]. But wouldn't a fairer test be something where two or more meanings could apply?

"Did you have fags at your school?" = inter-year servants, but could be any.
"Did you bum a fag last night?" = cigarette, but could be gay.
"People are so down on fags, but they're cool." Cigs or gay.

Though I don't know if other people can hear all three. (FWIW, I *have* heard someone use "gay" to mean "happily carefree" and I didn't misunderstand.)

[1] Reasons why on a postcard.

[ex_robhu]

"Did you bum a fag last night?"
Does bum have an alternate meaning here? I'm only aware of bum as a verb as meaning 'anal sex'.

[ewx]

[] fag breaks should be renamed “drug breaks”

[ex_robhu]

Coffee mugs should also be called "drug mugs"

[ewx]

Mostly I just call them mugs; it turns out they can hold lots of kinds of liquid.