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We need silliness this morning so here is an archaic word and some background about it:
Crinkum-Crankum: An archaic word describing elaborate decoration or detail, something with a lot of twists and turns or a vulgar reference to woman's private parts.

Francis Grose explained in his Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, in 1784 that in a law book (A Law Dictionary by Thomas Blount, 1670) that a widow would forfeit her lands and possessions if she was caught in amorous conversation but she might reclaim them if she appeared at the next manor-court, riding backwards on a black ram with his tail in her hand and reciting the follow words:
Here I am,
Riding on a black ram,
Like a whore that I am:
And for my crinkum-crankum,
Have lost my binkum-bankum;
And for my tail's game
Am brought this worldly shame.
Therefore Mr. Steward let me have my lands again.

If you ever wondered why women seem to be pissed off by laws relating strictly to females, this may give you a clue.

AmelieMatisse 8 July 10
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And for my crinkum-crankum,
Have lost my binkum-bankum

I wonder does it mean 'for my fornication, I've lost my property (bank-um)'? But women were men's property and couldn't exercise authority over their bodies.

The ram might hark back to Azaziel, the sin-carrier.

good point.

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These are the good old days the Republicans are always talking about! Why a black ram? A racial thing or religious thing?

I think it is a sort of magical thing because that's how "good Christians" are.

@MARDUK I believe you. Happens to me all the time

1

Wow, that was pretty harsh. Sounds like quite a feet actually. Wonder if anyone actually did that?

If I get transported back in time, at least I know what I shouldn't say.

These types of things happened all the time. I remember touring an historical home in Salem MA and they talked about the one owner who was the only child, a daughter, and heir of the man who owned it. As long as she remained single and "chaste" she was allowed retain ownership of the property. If she remarried the ownership immediately went to her husband and if she didn't remain chaste in her single life she would lose the property. At that point any other family member - even a very distant relation could lay claim to the property.

@AmelieMatisse At least it changed a little bit for you ladies.

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