February 1st, 2015 → 6:25 am @ Lea // No Comments

“She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail.”  – Othello

cod’s head – slang for penis

tail – slang for pudendum

There’s some controversy over what Shakespeare is actually saying here, that the woman would never exchange a lackluster lover for a sexy one?  That the woman is wise enough to choose a sexual partner becoming to her?  That the woman is smart enough to be first in a lowly group than last in a higher group?  Simply that the woman has common sense?  I don’t know, but there’s clearly some sexual connotation there somewhere.  “Tail” we still use today – but “cod’s head”?  These antiquated slang terms are cracking me up.