The term "the clap" for gonorrhea likely originates from one of several theories. The most popular explanations are:
- It comes from the French word "clapier," meaning brothel or "rabbit hut," referring to medieval brothel districts where the disease was common.
- It may derive from an Old English word "clappan," meaning "to beat" or "to throb," reflecting the painful symptoms of gonorrhea.
- It might refer to a historical treatment where men clapped or slapped the penis to force out infected discharge before antibiotics existed.
These theories all highlight different historical, linguistic, and folkloric roots for why gonorrhea is called "the clap".
