The term “bandy words” originated from the game “bandy” in the 16th century, which involved quick and brutal trading of a ball. The ability to exchange words with an opponent has been highly valued in English debates for centuries, but can also have a negative connotation if someone is quarrelsome.
The English idiom “to bandy words” has its origins in a fast-paced, violent game known as “bandy” that emerged in the 16th century. Over time, people started using the term “bandy” to describe any kind of quick and brutal trading, and by the 17th century, people were specifically describing bandy words, although the use of variants like “civilization bandy” is even older.
Bandy is best described as a kind of field hockey, where people move quickly around the field and throw a ball back and forth. The term “bandy” was also used to describe a volleyball in an early form of tennis, although tennis as we know it didn’t emerge until the 18th century. Certainly by ’18, people were familiar with “bandy” in the sense of an exchange of some sort, and people were exchanging looks, nations, and all sorts of other things in the parlance of the day.
When two people exchange words, they experience a quick and cutting exchange, usually characterized by being very witty and incisive. Crisp verbal exchanges have been highly valued in English debates and discussions for centuries, as the ability to exchange words with an opponent is seen as a sign of intelligence, wit and education. To unravel words effectively, someone must have a calm temper as he thinks quickly on his feet to respond to accusations made by an opponent.
Characters in Shakespeare’s comedies are famous for their loose exchanges, many of which were quite obscene, in keeping with the social mores of the time. Other English authors are also famous for their lively verbal combat, such as Jane Austen, who especially wrote highly witty female characters who often defied social expectations. Banned words are still considered a positive personality trait in some English-speaking nations, and may even be a job requirement in some cases.
However, the concept of loose words can also acquire a negative connotation, as in cases where the term is used to describe someone who is quarrelsome. While such exchanges can sometimes be intellectually stimulating and refreshing, the implication is that the tendency to mangle words at every opportunity can become tiring and suggest that someone has an argumentative or difficult personality. It can be especially galling when someone who is prone to fights often wins them, thus taking away any potential enjoyment from the experience.
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