Webster would say it is a bundle
a sticks. Why
is a bundle of sticks equated with a gay man?
In the inquisition of Europe, when
witches were
being burned, among those sought out for
burning were gay people. They were required to
gather the very "bundles of sticks" (the real
meaning of a faggot) with which they would be
burnt. When the faggots (sticks) were running
out, gay men were thrown on the fire to keep it
going for the witches. Faggot came to mean gay
man to force them into the closet for fear of
death. Scary, huh? Think about what you are
saying -- who you are offending when say this
word, even if in jest to a friend.
Main Entry: fag·got
Pronunciation: 'fa-g&t
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1914
: a male homosexual -- usually used disparagingly
- fag·got·ry /-g&-trE/ noun
- fag·goty /-g&-tE/ adjective
