Post #181300 by TikiGardener on Mon, Aug 22, 2005 10:29 PM

Indeed! Few remember that the word "punk" was a pretty heavy insult. As I recall, it was a pretty rough word to call someone, and was rarely used in mixed company.

But it didn't take long for long haired freaks to take being called a punk as a badge of validation.

Etymology of Punk
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010503

Although I have to take issue with the supposed origin of "punk rock" as a term.

Oh, we've all forgotten the Music Machine. Black leather vests, playing guitar whilst wearing fingerless black leather gloves.

'Nother
Punk Etymology
punk (2)
"worthless person" (especially a young hoodlum), 1917, probably from punk kid "criminal's apprentice," underworld slang first attested 1904 (with overtones of "catamite"). Ultimately from punk "prostitute, harlot, strumpet," first recorded 1596, of unknown origin. For sense shift from "harlot" to "homosexual," cf. gay. By 1923 used generally for "young boy, inexperienced person" (originally in show business, e.g. punk day, circus slang from 1930, "day when children are admitted free"). The verb meaning "to back out of" is from 1920. The "young criminal" sense is no doubt the inspiration in punk rock first attested 1971 (in a Dave Marsh article in "Creem"), popularized 1976.

Note the Creem origin again....

[ Edited by: TikiGardener 2005-08-22 22:31 ]