Added 10 October 2026
asshole
/æshoʊl/ noun
In Latin: pōdex Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about asshole at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous.
- Vulgar slang for anus.
Origin
Variant of earlier arsehole, from Middle English arshole, arcehoole, equivalent to ass + hole. Cognate with Norwegian rasshøl (“asshole”), Swedish arsle (“asshole”). Compare also German Arschloch (“asshole”). Attested from the 1370s, replacing earlier Old English earsþyrel (“anus”, literally “ass hole”). First recorded in Middle English, as ers hole (Glouc. Cath. Manuscript 19. No. I., dated 1379, cited after OED), ars-hole (Bodleian Ashmole MS. 1396, dated ca. 1400, ed.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)