It is unclear whether the word had always been considered vulgar, and if not, when it first started to be considered vulgar. Some evidence indicates that in some English-speaking locales it was considered acceptable as late as the 17th century meaning "to strike" or "to penetrate"[1]. Other evidence indicates that it may have become vulgar as early as the 16th century in England. The etymology (origin) of the word is uncertain (see below).