Arse
noun / exclamation /ɑːs/ — The buttocks; a stupid person; British form of 'ass'
Definition
The buttocks — one of the oldest English words, from Proto-Germanic stock. Also: a stupid or contemptible person. The British 'arse' retains the original Old English vowel; the American 'ass' represents a later dialectal variation.
Beyond the definition
Arse's greatest achievement is its antiquity — one of the oldest taboo words in the English language, still doing exactly what it was doing a thousand years ago. It has outlasted most of the civilisations that used it.
Origin & history
Old English: ærs (tail, rump). From Proto-Germanic *arsaz. One of the oldest English words still in common use. The American 'ass' is a 19th-century variant.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He made an arse of himself and knew it immediately.
The word 'arse' is older than the Norman Conquest. Think about that.
She told him to get off his arse and do something. He did.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Arse” when the meaning fits your context: The buttocks — one of the oldest English words, from Proto-Germanic stock. Also: a stupid or contemptible person. The British 'arse' retains the original Old English vowel; the American 'ass' represents a later dialectal variation.
Synonyms
buttocks, backside, rear
Related words
Arse vs ass
Arse is the traditional British term, while ass is the common American variant. Use arse for British-specific context, but be aware it is considered more vulgar in the US.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Observing Details from Below
A person walks through a rain-slicked city square, noticing reflections and textures.
The focus on ground-level details—puddles and bricks—mirrors the grounding, physical nature of the word 'arse'. It represents a return to the base elements of the environment, much like the word itself refers to the fundamental, physical base of the body.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Arse" mean?
Arse is noun / exclamation meaning: The buttocks; a stupid person; British form of 'ass'. The buttocks — one of the oldest English words, from Proto-Germanic stock. Also: a stupid or contemptible person. The British 'arse' retains the original Old English vowel; the American 'ass' represents a later dialectal variation.
Where does the word "Arse" come from?
Old English: ærs (tail, rump). From Proto-Germanic *arsaz. One of the oldest English words still in common use. The American 'ass' is a 19th-century variant.