As Savage waxes on about word derivation and evolution,
I find it ironic that he’s based in San Francisco. One popular community there is known by a 3-letter word that used to mean “happy.”
It’s just weird to come across that word in older poetry or songs, e.g,. “Why do birds sing so gay?”
“The Gay Nineties” (1890s)
...My favorite curse word, sophist...
From The Kinks “ David Watts “ ( 1967 ) ...
He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
He is so gay and fancy free
And I wish all his money belonged to me
I wish I could be like David Watts ...