Origin Rooted in the archaic Biblical usage of the verb know, or knew, as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, as in the Book of Genesis, and later codified in English criminal law such as the Offences against the Person Act 1828.
Carnal knowledge is an archaic or legal euphemism for sexual intercourse. In modern statutes the term sexual penetration is widely used instead, though with various definitions, and the term carnal knowledge derives from carnal, meaning of the flesh, combined with the Biblical usage of the verb know or knew as a euphemism for sexual conduct. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Origin PeriodRooted in the archaic Biblical usage of the verb know, or knew, as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, as in the Book of Genesis, and later codified in English criminal law such as the Offences against the Person Act 1828. 1 Core PrincipleFunctioned in criminal statutes as the sexual intercourse element required to complete offenses such as rape, deemed complete upon proof of penetration alone rather than emission. 1 Origin Period
Origin Period (category)19th Century (1800-1899) 1 Sources
1. Carnal knowledge (Wikipedia)
Etymology section, quoting Genesis 4:1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain
Legal history section, quoting Offences against the Person Act 1828 s.18
the carnal Knowledge shall be deemed complete upon Proof of Penetration only
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