- arse
- a person viewed sexuallyLiterally, the buttocks but, because they were the subject of taboo while a donkey wasn't, it was changed to ass, which quickly acquired similar connotations and persists in America. Thus in obsolete British use, a jackass became a Johnny Bum, Jack and ass being vulgar, while bum was still respectable.The commonest use, of male or female, is when they are described as a bit or piece of arse or ass:Am I to believe you would risk something like this for a piece of arse? (Diehl, 1978)The stewardesses all agreed he was a piece of ass. (Follett, 1978)An arse or ass man is a promiscuous person:... sexy as he smiled at the girl who was one of Engineering's assistants. He was the house ass-man. (M. Thomas, 1982)An arse-bandit, sometimes shortened to bandit, is a male homosexual:He's a Moonie or somethin', isn't he? he said as he stuck on the Sports Channel — And an arse bandit. (R. Doyle, 1990)An arse peddler is a prostitute, heterosexual or homosexual.
How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.