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Gonorrhea
Why is Gonorrhea also know as "The Clap"?
P.S I didn't know which category to put this under, so...
Peace.
xx
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Actually, according to The University of Arizona Campus Health Service:
"Gonorrhea has been informally called 'the clap' for a very long time; but like many words, the moniker has changed just enough over the years to obscure its origins. In fact, this piece of American slang is originally derived from the Old French word "clapoir", which refers to a sexual sore, and dates back as far as 1587."
One suggestion of the origin of "the clap" actually refers to a traditional treatment used to clear the blockage in the urethra from gonorrheal pus, where the penis would be "clapped" on both sides simultaneously.
It could also refer to the painful sting in the male urethra, which feels like the sting of a clap (as in clapping hands), when infected with the sexually transmitted disease.
Another suggested source is from the Old French word "clapier", meaning "brothel". In essence, if you visited the "clapier" then you may contract the "clapoir."
Another suggested source for the term is from a notorious 18th century keeper of a brothel, Margaret Clap (better known as "Mother Clap"), though perhaps her name itself was derived from the slang term.
Lastly, another suggestion is that by the year 1200, more than 1,400 drugs (most of them of little value) were used in the attempt to treat gonorrhea. The disease was so common that laws were passed in attempt to better regulate prostitution. In Paris, prostitutes were housed in quarters known as clapiers, literally meaning 'rabbit hutches,' which may explain how the term 'the clap' evolved. The word "clapier" then became better equivalent to our "brothel."
In short, nobody exactly knows WHY gonorrhea is known as "the clap" but we do know that it originated many years ago. For all we know, the above mentioned were all used in creating today's slang term.
There are over 700,000 cases of gonorrhea in the U.S. every year. If you treat gonorrhea early, it is usually cured with a single dose of antibiotics (either injected or taken orally). If the infection has spread over time (as the earlier you catch this disease, the easier it is to treat), you my need to be medicated for an extended period of time or, in severe cases, hospitalized for treatment.
Gonorrhea always requires medical treatment. If left untreated, it can cause numerous serious health problems, including chronic pain (usually near the pelvic region) and infertility in both men and women. Eventually, untreated gonorrhea can be spread to the blood and joints, which can be a life-threatening condition.
If you have any more questions please feel free to ask me! :)
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