XXXX

See also: 㸚

Translingual

Alternative forms

• (roman numeral): xxxx, XL, xl

Number

XXXX

1. A Roman numeral representing forty (40) in the (now non-standard) "additive" form; now replaced by the form XL.

See also

• 4X
• Previous: XXXIX (thirty-nine, 39)
• Next: XLI (forty-one, 41)

English

Etymology 1

From the (Australian) XXXX brand of lager, which was named after the practice of using repetitions of X, such as XXX, to indicate the strength of an alcoholic beverage, and which was advertised with the slogan "Australians couldn't give a XXXX for any other lager."

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔːɹˈɛks/ (like "four X")
• Rhymes: -ɛks

Noun

XXXX

1. (Bowdlerisation) A fuck / damn.
   • 1985 September 6, in the Times of London, quoted in 2009 by Jesse Sheidlower in The F-Word, page 269:

     Allied does not give a XXXX for Elders.

   • 1988 June 10, in the Guardian, quoted in 2009 by Jesse Sheidlower in The F-Word, page 269:

     Quite a few of the party's MPs don't give a XXXX for the whole affair […] .

   • 1996, in the December (1995) / January (1996) Arena, volume 59, number 1, quoted in 2009 by Jesse Sheidlower in The F-Word, page 269:

     Most of the world couldn't give a XXXX about it, something that has long rankled with the marketing men […] .

Etymology 2

From X chromosome.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kwɔˈdrupəlˌɛks/, /ˌɛksɛksɛksˈɛks/, /fɔːɹˈɛks/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Proper noun

XXXX

1. Tetrasomy X, a rare chromosomal disorder affecting females, caused by the presence of four X chromosomes instead of two present in the usual human karyotype.

Etymology 3

From X (“motion picture "adult" rating”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛksɛksɛksˈɛks/
• Rhymes: -ɛks

Adjective

XXXX

1. X-rated, pornographic

Synonyms

• pornographic, X-rated, XXX; see also Thesaurus:pornographic