#testis
Michael K Williams as Julius Caesar for the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
For various reasons, I’m relieved to see black guys getting Shakespearean roles that are not Othello.
Fun fact: in ancient Rome, grabbing your nuts meant “I am telling the absolute truth” (“testimony” and “testicles” are from the same root; I wonder if “mony” in this compound is the same as in “alimony,” it’d make the whole word “I bet my balls this is true”). I am not sure what an extended middle finger and the derpface meant, though.
actually, testimony is a shortened form of testimonium, whereas alimony is a shortened form of alimonia. both went through french before they came to english, and french monks really liked putting ‘-y’s and ‘-ie’s on the end of things.
also most etymologists think that the reason why testis literally means ‘witness’ is because testicles, according to the romans, ‘bore witness’ to one’s relative masculinity, but it’s totally possible either, or both, explanations make sense. either way, it’s weird as hell. and also really cool. but not as cool as michael k williams.
fun fact i learned while researching this: old english for balls was herþan which basically meant ‘leather bag’ for reasons that may or may not be obvious.
Post link
