meaning and orgin plz

[Sw33tFari3]

why is it impolite for a woman to walk on the outside (curb) of a street?

[woofgang]

Its not impolite of the woman, its impolite of her male companion. He should be on the outside so that when a hackney carriage sweeps past, the muck thrown up by the wheels and horses lands on him and not her.

[ursula62]

The other reason is that in Tudor times, houses were built with the upper stories overhanging the street. Women would walk under this shelter to protect their clothes as the people in the upstairs of the house would often empty their chamberpots out of the windows into the street below.

[rojash]

In other words, Ursula62, it's all part of the centuries old conspiracy of male chauvinists to prevent women discovering the pleasure of bathing in poo.

[ursula62]

more like saving their lily white hands from having to scrub too many dirty clothes, rojash!

[jno]

of course if ladies walk on the inside they risk being kicked to death by Harry Worth types doing their thing in shop doorways.

[gregcropper]

its impolite of a man not to take the outer position. I heard that it was because his sword would be hanging on his left side and so he would avoid stabbing her in the thigh by having her on the other side. Sounds reasonably plausable ?