History and Etymology for cuckold came from the Latin word cum, meaning "a cock." A cock was a bird used in hunting, hence the term cock. It is unknown exactly where the term came from or who first introduced it, but the origin can be traced through early medieval French texts where it appears. The term eventually travelled to Spain, then to England where it became known as the "cunning" or "stinging cock," which is why it was used to describe marital rape in many accounts throughout Europe. The common misconception is that the name originated in France, although it's actually derived from Old English.

While there are many different explanations of the origin of the name, most agree that it stems from a combination of two words - "cuckold," which is a synonym for "wrangle," and "winchest," which mean "bachelor." As you can see, the cock question was one that was frequently asked in marriage. Not only was it important to the men involved to keep their partners happy and satisfied in their relationships, but it was also essential to know just how much money a woman would earn if she were to marry and bear children. While some men felt that it was necessary to force women to stay faithful, others thought it was a question of prestige. Regardless of what the original intent was, the question of how to use a word that literally drives someone's cock straight seems to stem from the need to know just how much someone is worth.

For example, when I used to translate word lists in a classroom setting, we always had to refer back to the definition guides. If we didn't, someone would invariably ask: "Why do we need the word list to translate?" It turns out that the very reason people use word lists is so they can have conversations that are more interesting and more effective in helping them understand the intricacies of other languages. It seems the question of how to use a word that drives a man's cock straight still hasn't been answered, but thanks to the great work of lexicographers like ourselves, we know now that we can at least rest assured that proper usage is not a prerequisite for the proper understanding of the language.