GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Here you will find a glossary of terms which have been used throughout the website. These are historical terms which describe or relate to mental illness, disability, identity and medical conditions and treatments. These are reflective of the vocabulary used in the periods we are examining. This language is not reflective of the views or belifes of BACKLIT staff and the project participants, as the majority of this language is offensive and outdated.
Asylum - An institution for the care of people who are mentally ill.
Buggery - A historical term used to describe anal sexual intercourse.
Criminal Lunatic - The terms of the Criminal Lunatics Act applied to people charged with treason, murder, or felony who were acquitted on the grounds of insanity or who appeared to be insane when apprehended, brought in for arraignment, or summoned for discharge due to a lack of prosecution.
Dumb – A term historically referring to the inability or unwillingness to speak, often linked to people who were deaf. This is now an offensive term often used to describe someone as being stupid. It can also be used to describe the temporary inability to speak.
Hysteria – Now refers to excessive emotion or excitement. Previously used as a term to diagnose (predominantly) women displaying various symptoms of mental illness. Thought to be related to the female reproductive system.
Idiot/Idiocy – A historical and offensive used in the 19th and early 20th century this term was often used to describe people with profound learning disabilities.
Insane – A term used to describe a state of mind which prevents normal perception, behaviour, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill.
Imbecile – A historical and offensive term used to describe someone with moderate learning disabilities.
Intemperance – Used to describe excessive indulgence in alcohol or other vices. Also described a lack of moderation or restraint.
Lunatic/Lunacy – A term which was used to describe someone who was mentally ill, or displaying dangerous and disordered behaviours.
Madhouse – A historical name for an institution which cared for mentally ill people.
Parturition – The action of giving birth.
Pauper – A term used to describe very poor people.
Peuperal – Refers to the period after childbirth.
Physician – A medical practitioner.
Poor Law - A law relating to the support of the poor. Originally the responsibility of the parish, the relief and employment of the poor passed over to the workhouses in 1834. In the early 20th century the Poor Law was replaced by schemes of social security.
Privation – A state in which food and other provisions for well being are lacking.
Self-Abuse – A behaviour which is damaging to oneself, however often used in relation to masturbation.
Sodomy - A historical term used to describe anal sexual intercourse.
Unnamed/ Unnatural Offences – Acts of same sex intercourse or relationships, which were historically a criminal offence. Socially unacceptable crimes.
