S&M WORDS

bottom noun, US, 1961
the submissive partner in a homosexual or sado-
masochistic relationship
• Boots could take either the top or the
bottom, without the least show of emotion.
—Donald Goines, Whoreson 1972

dump verb, US, 1957
to derive sexual pleasure from sadistic acts
• Tricks pay a hundred dollars to dump girls.
Sometimes more. I’d never take a dumping
myself for less than a hundred. —John M.
Murtagh and Sara Harris, Cast the First
Stone 1957

heavy scene noun, US, 1979
sado-masochistic sex
• During one of his periodic excursions to
other cities in search of new “heavy
scenes” – and his reputation as a top-man
precedes his forays – Chas was asked to
play an auctioneer at a simulated “slave
auction[.]” —John Rechy, Rushes 1979

lasting mark noun, US, 1987
a welt or bruise produced in sadomasochistic
sex
• If a man says “no lasting marks” he is put
through a gradual build-up of increasingly
painful procedures. —Frederique Delacoste,
Sex Work 1987

rough trade noun, US, 1927
a tough, often sadistic male homosexual,
especially as a casual sex-partner
• I had an address book a mile long, packed
with tricks from “drag queens” to rough
trade, old aunties, little nellie queens that
stayed home with mother. —Antony James,
America’s Homosexual Underground 1965

Sadie Masie noun, US, 1965
sado-masochism
• A side trip to the “S. & M.” (sado-
masochistic) or “Sadie-Maisie” homosexual
bars —G. Legman, The Fake Revolt 1967