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Author: Subject: Etymology of Ramera
Eugenio
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[*] posted on 2-8-2010 at 02:09 AM
Etymology of Ramera


I always figured that the word "ramera" was an anglicism of the verb "to ram". Turns out it has a completely different etymology. It makes one wonder how the custom of giving "ramos" to la novia came about?

Taken from:http://www.elcastellano.org/palabra.php?q=ramera

Hacia fines de la Edad Media, era costumbre en España colgar un ramo en la puerta de las tabernas para indicar que no se trataba de viviendas particulares y llamar de esta manera la atención de los clientes (v. cliente*).

Las prostitutas, así como hoy ocultan sus negocios haciéndolos pasar por casas de masajes, en aquella época los disimulaban colgando en su puertas un ramo, como si se tratara de tabernas.

Por esa razón, las comadres empezaron a llamarlas rameras, una palabra que les sonaba más púdica que prostituta*. Este vocablo aparece registrado por primera vez en español a finales del siglo XV, como, por ejemplo, en La Celestina (1499), de Fernando de Rojas:

Esta mujer es marcada ramera, según tú me dijiste, cuanto con ella te pasó has de creer que no carece de engaño. Sus ofrecimientos fueron falsos y no sé yo a qué fin.


Estos textos ha sido extraídos de los libros de Ricardo Soca La fascinante historia de las palabras y Nuevas fascinantes historias de las palabras.

Yeah - fascinating.
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