Definition of the word bollocks

The exact origin of the English slang word "bollocks" is unclear and shrouded in controversy. It is a euphemism for "testicles" that is considered vulgar and highly offensive in some contexts. One popular theory suggests that the word originated from the Old Norse words "balli" or "balluk," which both roughly translate to "testicles." This theory posits that the word made its way into the English language during the Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. Another theory suggests that "bollocks" is a derivative of the Middle English word "bollocken," which referred to the balls of a Ramsey boiler, a type of steam engine used in textile mills during the Industrial Revolution. This theory suggests that the word was co-opted as a slang term for the male genitals due to its similarity in sound and meaning. Regardless of its true origin, "bollocks" has been in use as a slang term in the English language for centuries, with the first recorded use of the word appearing in the late 1500s. It continues to be a provocative and oft-censored term in contemporary British culture, and its use is discouraged in most formal or professional settings.