Squick
Meaning
Squick is an online slang expression, especially common within fandom groups, as well as BDSM forums.
The term refers to a feeling of disgust and discomfort caused by something.
Origin
The expression was first documented on a Usenet group, called alt.sex.bondage, in the early 1990’s.
It is described as the perfect onomatopoetic word for skull fucking.
For a while it was used in this sense, and many people used it as a verb for fucking someone in the face.
Later, though the meaning of “squick” shifted into something, that causes a huge repulsion in someone, combining ick with squ– from the word squirm.
Spread and Usage
The term had spread far and wide on the internet, appearing all sorts of forums and message boards, slowly making it into fandom discussions too.
Here, as well as in BDSM discussions, “squick” was used to label something as a “personal turn-off”.
Personal is emphasized on all sites, with an Urban Dictionary definitions even claiming that the term is not meant to be judgmental, but instead observant of one’s own reaction to something.
The term was first mentioned on Urban Dictionary in 2003.
External References
- Vice – The Hidden Language of Kinksters
- Fanlore – Squick