cul (French)
Where does "cul" come from?
The French word 'cul' originated from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to cover or hide,' which originally referred to the skin or a protective layer. It evolved through the Proto-Italic word for 'posterior' and the Latin 'cūlus' before passing through Old and Middle French. Over time, its meaning expanded from the anatomical backside to include the base of objects and even metaphorical expressions for luck or sexual activity.
Full etymology tree
- cul (French), 'butt, bum, ass, arse'
- inherited from cul (Middle French), 'arse, ass; anus'
- inherited from cul (Old French)
- inherited from cūlus (Latin), 'The posterior, arse, ass, buttocks'
- inherited from *kūlos (Proto-Italic), 'posterior'
- inherited from *kuH-l- (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived from *(s)kewHlo- (Proto-Indo-European)
- suffix *(s)kewH- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to cover, conceal, hide'
- derived from *(s)kewHlo- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited from *kuH-l- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited from *kūlos (Proto-Italic), 'posterior'
- inherited from cūlus (Latin), 'The posterior, arse, ass, buttocks'
- inherited from cul (Old French)
- inherited from cul (Middle French), 'arse, ass; anus'
Ancestors
- cul (Middle French)
- culus (Latin)
Descendants and derived words
- acculer (French)
- avoir des casseroles au cul (French)
- avoir des couilles au cul (French)
- avoir du cul (French)
- avoir la tête dans le cul (French)
- avoir le cul bordé de nouilles (French)
- avoir le cul dans le beurre (French)
- avoir le cul entre deux chaises (French)
- avoir le feu au cul (French)
- avoir un balai dans le cul (French)
- basculer (French)
- basculeur (French)
Updated March 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris