Where does "uncle" come from?

[Haltickling]

It seems that "uncle" is something like a natural English 'safeword' when the tickling gets too much.

Does anybody know about the origin of that? Was it always the uncles who tickled nieces/nephews? Was it derived from a similar word? Just curious...

 

[TickleMantis]

I also wonder about this, and off topic I also wonder what all this "Marco" "Polo" stuff is about, I know he was a guy but I have no clue why people say the names separatley. I'm sure anyone of out American friends can answer these.

 

[Alex Warfield]

Glad I could happen along and help clear this up.

An "uncle" is a male sibling of one's parent. Thus, my father, or mother's brother is my uncle.

Happy I could help.

-AW

 

[TickleMantis]

Har har.😛

 

[Limeoutsider]

LMAO@Alex!

 

[amk714]

I found this, hope it helps: 🙂

http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/7/messages/581.html

It seems that while "crying uncle" is today regarded as an Americanism, its origins go all the way back to the Roman Empire. Roman children, when beset by a bully, would be forced to say "Patrue, mi Patruissimo," or "Uncle, my best Uncle," in order to surrender and be freed.
As to precisely "why" bullies force their victims to "cry uncle," opinions vary. It may be that the ritual is simply a way of making the victim call out for help from a grownup, thus proving his or her helplessness. Alternatively, it may have started as a way of forcing the victim to grant the bully a title of respect -- in Roman times, your father's brother was accorded nearly the same power and status as your father. The form of "uncle" used in the Latin phrase ("patrue") tends to support this theory, inasmuch as it specifically denoted your paternal uncle, as opposed to the brother of your mother ("avunculus"), who occupied a somewhat lower rung in patrilineal Roman society.

 

[Haltickling]

Thanks a lot, Alex (amk)! Yes, that seems to be the explanation I've been looking for. 😎

 

[sole seeker]

I also wonder about this... "Marco" "Polo" stuff is about, I know he was a guy but I have no clue why people say the names separatley.

I can't say if this is the reason you hear them said seperately, but I do have an explanation.

When I was a kid playing at the local swimming pool we used to play a game like Blind Man's Bluff, called Marco Polo. Basically, one guy was "it" and he had to keep his eyes closed while he tried to tag one of the other people playing the game.

The guy who was "it" called out "Marco!", and everyone who was playing had to respond "Polo!". This way the guy who was it had some idea where the other people were, even with his eyes closed. He then tried to tag them, and whoever was tagged became "it".

 

[Alex Warfield]

I can't say if this is the reason you hear them said seperately, but I do have an explanation.

When I was a kid playing at the local swimming pool we used to play a game like Blind Man's Bluff, called Marco Polo. Basically, one guy was "it" and he had to keep his eyes closed while he tried to tag one of the other people playing the game.

The guy who was "it" called out "Marco!", and everyone who was playing had to respond "Polo!". This way the guy who was it had some idea where the other people were, even with his eyes closed. He then tried to tag them, and whoever was tagged became "it".

Yah, this game was great fun, until one day when I was playing with a group of friends, and was the dude looking for everyone. Turns out the dude I was after had hopped out of the pool without me noticing. So when I thought I had the bloody bloke cornered, I dove at the voice and proceeded to bash my noggin on the side of the pool, leaving my brain temporarily nobbled.

 

[ShiningIce]

You tell the best stories Uncle Alex.

 

[TickleMantis]

Thanks.😀

 

[Limeoutsider]

Glad I could happen along and help clear this up.

An "uncle" is a male sibling of one's parent. Thus, my father, or mother's brother is my uncle.

Happy I could help.

-AW

Cute Alex!!