Hey there! I’m Josh Sundquist, and welcome to Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, we’re diving into a fun question from Cat 3 Crazy: Where did the phrase “a guy was hot” come from?
First off, let’s clarify that we’re talking about someone being good-looking, not running a fever! You might be surprised to learn that this expression has been around for about 700 years. Let’s explore how it all started.
The word “hot” in English has its roots in Old English and was borrowed from Germanic languages. Originally, it just meant something related to heat. But around the 1300s, the meaning began to shift. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “hot” started to be associated with feelings of desire or lust. This was a big change, moving the word closer to how we use it today when talking about attractiveness.
One of the earliest examples of this new meaning can be found in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” from the late 1300s. Chaucer described a character as “hot he was and lecherous as a sparrow.” Another example is from “Merlin” or “The Early History of King Arthur,” written between 1450 and 1460, which talks about “the most hottest woman of all Britain and most luxurious.” While these examples might still lean more towards lustful, they show the evolving use of the word.
Even Shakespeare got in on the action! In his play “Othello,” there’s a line that goes, “were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys.”
The Oxford English Dictionary notes that by 1926, “hot” officially became slang for attractive. This was first seen in print in an article from The New Republic magazine, which called Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the “hot mama” of goddesses.
As for when guys were first called “hot,” the Oxford English Dictionary points to James Robert Baker’s 1985 book “Adrenaline.” In it, he wrote about “jillions of hot young guys.”
So, there you have it! The word “hot” has come a long way from just describing temperature to becoming a popular way to say someone is attractive. Thanks for joining me on this journey through history. If you’re curious about more topics like this, check out my memoir, “We Should Hang Out Sometime,” for more fun insights. And if you have your own big question, feel free to leave it in the comments. See you next time!
Research the historical evolution of the word “hot” from its Old English origins to its modern usage. Create a timeline that highlights key moments and examples, such as Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” and Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Use visuals and brief descriptions to make your timeline engaging.
In groups, choose a historical period mentioned in the article and create a short skit that demonstrates how the word “hot” was used during that time. Perform your skit for the class and discuss how the meaning of “hot” has changed over the centuries.
Create a poster that visually represents the transformation of the word “hot” from its original meaning to its current slang usage. Include images, quotes from historical texts, and a brief explanation of each stage in its evolution.
Research other slang words that have evolved over time. Choose one word and present its history and current usage to the class. Compare its evolution to that of “hot” and discuss why language changes over time.
Write a short story or dialogue that incorporates the word “hot” in both its historical and modern contexts. Use your creativity to show the contrast in meanings and how the word can be interpreted differently depending on the context.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Hi, I’m Josh Sunquist, and this is MentalFloss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to answer Cat 3 Crazy’s big question: Where did the phrase “a guy was hot” originate?
Well, Cat, I’m going to assume that you mean this guy is good-looking, not feverish. You might be surprised to learn that this term is quite old—around 700 years! Let’s get started.
Since you asked where the term originated, I should note that the English word “hot” evolved from a similar Old English term, which was borrowed from Germanic languages. Back then, the word simply referred to heat. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it was during the 1300s that “hot” began to be associated with lustfulness or desire. So, while the word didn’t mean attractive yet, it had shifted from referring to temperature to referring to lust. This was a crucial change in the word’s meaning, bringing it closer to how we understand it today.
An example of this can be seen in the prologue of Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales.” Chaucer wrote the phrase “hot he was and lecherous as a sparrow” during the late 1300s. Another example appears in “Merlin” or “The Early History of King Arthur,” written between 1450 and 1460, which describes a character as “the most hottest woman of all Britain and most luxurious.” This sounds more similar to how we use the word “hottest” today, but it probably still meant lustful in this context.
The usage of the word persisted through history. For instance, Shakespeare’s “Othello” includes the line “were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys.”
The Oxford English Dictionary cites 1926 as the year “hot” officially became a slang word meaning attractive. I say “officially” because the slang was likely already in use, but this is the first time “hot” appeared in print meaning attractive. The context was an article in The New Republic magazine that claimed Aphrodite, more widely known as Venus, was the “hot mama” of goddesses.
Cat does specifically mention guys in her question, though. For where guys are first referred to as hot, the Oxford English Dictionary cites James Robert Baker’s 1985 book “Adrenaline,” where he wrote, “there’s always just jillions of hot young guys around.”
Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, which is made with the help of all these nice people. Again, I’m Josh Sunquist. For more information about hotness and romance, check out my new memoir, “We Should Hang Out Sometime.” Click on the link below to go to weshouldhangouttime.com for more information. If you have a big question of your own that you’d like answered, leave it below in the comments. See you next week!
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Hot – Having a high degree of heat or a high temperature. – The debate about the themes in the novel became quite hot during the English class discussion.
English – The language of England, widely used in many varieties throughout the world. – In Grade 9, students explore various forms of English literature to enhance their understanding of the language.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. – Studying literature allows students to explore different cultures and historical periods through storytelling.
Origins – The point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived. – The origins of the English language can be traced back to the early medieval period.
Attractive – Pleasing or appealing to the senses. – The cover of the novel was so attractive that it immediately caught the attention of the students.
Desire – A strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. – The protagonist’s desire for freedom is a central theme in the novel.
Chaucer – Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet known as the Father of English literature. – Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” is often studied in high school literature classes for its rich storytelling and historical context.
Shakespeare – William Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. – Shakespeare’s plays, such as “Romeo and Juliet,” are a staple in the Grade 9 English curriculum.
Slang – A type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal. – The use of slang in the dialogue made the characters in the novel feel more realistic and relatable to modern readers.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding the history of a literary work can provide deeper insight into its themes and characters.
