Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world. And no matter how much science has taught us about the origins, symptoms of gonorrhea, and treatment options surrounding gonorrhea, one looming question remains: why is gonorrhea called The Clap?
Okay, we admit this isn’t the main issue surrounding the disease, but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t a little curious about it. And the truth is, we don’t know. Actually, no one seems to know. The reason why gonorrhea is called The Clap is truly one of life’s greatest mysteries. However, etymologists seem to have narrowed it down to one of three explanations.
Theory #1: It is derived from the oldest profession in the world
All things considered, this theory seems the most credible of the three. In this case, The Clap is derived from the French word ‘clapier’ which means ‘rabbit huts’. And while we know how promiscuous rabbits often are, the term actually referred to French brothels; specifically small rooms in brothels in which prostitutes and their throngs of horny Frenchmen… erm… completed their transactions, so to speak. In the 16th century, ‘Les Clapiers’ actually became the unofficial name of a famous brothel district in Paris, and given the relative lack of medicinal advances at the time, it makes perfect sense that such a popular attraction could inspire its own offbeat colloquialisms. .
Theory #2: It comes from a traditional (but rather unpleasant) English term
Some believe that The Clap gets its name from the Old English word ‘clappan’, which means ‘to hit’ or ‘to knock’. You can probably see where this is going. Experts suggest the jargon became a bit of an overly visual description of the genital pain associated with gonorrhea. Those diagnosed with the disease – especially centuries ago – complained of burning and throbbing, accompanied by unpleasant discharges, infections, and… well, you get the idea. In short, while the explanation is a bit unrefined, this is not an entirely unbelievable explanation for the term.
Theory #3: Oh, please don’t let it be theory #3!
If you’re at all squeamish, we suggest you stop here and just choose one of the first two. We wouldn’t blame you at all if you did.
Still with us? Okay, don’t say we didn’t warn you. This third theory stems from a real medieval home remedy for gonorrhea, dating back to a long time ago, when people had very bad ideas about home remedies for gonorrhea. Essentially, men would attempt to rid themselves of the pus and discharge caused by the disease by…*gulp*…aggressively clapping their hands on either side of their penises until the infection was forcibly expelled through the urethra. And if that didn’t work (it didn’t work, by the way), they tried something more self-destructive, like a table or other hard surface at waist height, a heavy object like a book or a boat paddle, and FREAKING NERVES OF STEEL!
That didn’t work either.
So there you have it; three (or maybe just two) possible explanations for why gonorrhea is called The Clap. Fortunately, gonorrhea treatment has come a long way since the days of invasive and ineffective wooden paddles (seriously, DO NOT try that at home). If caught early enough, gonorrhea is 100 percent curable. Yet incidence rates are rising nationally year after year and many people who are carriers of the disease have not shown physical symptoms for quite some time. For these reasons, it is best to get tested when necessary. For more information about The Clap, or to learn how you can test yourself from the comfort and privacy of your own home, CLICK HERE