It's probably a good thing that I didn't know this before I retired. I just came across an item at neatorama.com entitled THE BALLSY ORIGIN OF 'TESTIFY.'
It is said that the word 'testify' was derived from the ancient Roman custom of men holding their testicles with their right hands before giving court testimony.
Why did they do this? It was because women and eunuchs were excluded from being allowed to be witnesses.
I should note, too, that in Genesis 24 Abraham instructs his eldest servant, who is about to swear by the Lord, to place his hand under Abrahams thigh, an apparent euphemism for what is actually being held. So perhaps holding the testicles of the person in front of whom you are swearing gradually morphed over time to holding one's own testes.
My own unabridged dictionary, by the way, does not make reference to this quaint custom. My New Oxford American Dictionary etymologists insist that the origin of 'testify' is the Latin testificari or testis which means witness. Etymologists can be boring fellows.
posted on Mar 6, 2008 9:21 AM ()
Wow, that gives that word a whole different feel for me
Well, when you pledge allegiance you put your hand over your heart. Since so many men are driven by that, perhaps they knew then where many mens brains were..
‹ chat status
Profile
Photos
Comments
