• thegiddystitcher@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      It’s kind of an old-timey usage. Comes up a lot in Lord of the Rings.

      “Gay” in this context is also old-timey.

      But a cigarette is still a “fag” to a lot of people. Interestingly uncomfortable for me to even type out even though I grew up with that being a totally normal word!

      • someguy3
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        8 months ago

        I know gay and fag mean happy and cigarette, but didn’t know that queer was used to mean unusual (like I know it can be defined as that, but didn’t think anyone used it like that.)

        • Gabu@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          The song “Star of the County Down”, as sung by The High Kings, uses “queer” to mean “unusual”. Incidently, I find that to be the best arrange of this classic Irish tune - very melodious.

    • macrocarpa@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Not frequently said, but certainly written

      'as I crossed the misty downs I had the queerest feeling - as if being watched."