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primarily using one's left hand for tasks
designed for or used with the left hand
ironically ambiguous
rotating to the left
lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
(of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior
(of marriages) illicit or informal
(of a person) gay
What is the origin of the term "left-handed" and how is it used?
Left-handed is a slang term that appeared in early–mid 20th-century English to describe a gay person. The term comes from longstanding cultural associations of the left hand with abnormality, deviance, or unluckiness, which were metaphorically extended to sexual orientation. Historically, it was derogatory, used to label someone as different or socially unacceptable. Today it is largely historical and rarely recognized outside discussions of vintage slang, and using it in modern contexts would generally be considered offensive.
