He's a Mother.

[AniaSM]

Ok. I'm a bit confused and a bit annoyed. Why is it that in some English books grown men call other men "Mother" sometimes? I like to think I have a handle on English literature but I know I've missed something.

[Quizmonster]

Are you referring to the American tendency to shorten the two-word curse consisting of 'mother-' and a six-letter word beginning with 'f' and ending with 'er', meaning 'one who has sexual intercourse?

[AniaSM]

No. I dont mean swearwords. I mean certain types of middle class men in English literature. Sometimes they also call their wifes "Mother"
Very strange I know but thats why I dont understand it.

[squarebear]

I can't think of any examples of this. Could you name where you saw it please?

[AniaSM]

I've definitely read it in a Billy Bunter novel. It seems to happen a lot in books written in the late 19th century.

[squarebear]

I'm guessing but it's maybe a friendly term relating to two men who went to school or served in the armed forces together? Perhaps one was a prefect or a higher ranking officer and was looked upon as the "mother"?

Only a guess though.

[AniaSM]

Thanks suqarebear. Kisses.

[squarebear]

Another thought.

It could be a sarcastic comment for someone who is bossing another man around. eg:

Jack - Get here now
Steve - Yes mother(!)

[Quizmonster]

The Oxford English Dictionary - the 'bible' in such matters - does not list any such usage whereby 'mother' may be used of a man except in the possible instance when tea is being served. In such a situation, anyone - male or female - might say, "Shall I be mother?" or "You be mother" meaning "Shall I pour the tea?" or "You pour the tea."
Was it The Avengers or some similar 1960s 'special agent' TV series in which the spymaster - a man - was called 'Mother'? But that was a joke.
As regards Squarebear's suggestion, as an ex military officer, I'd be horrified if any of my juniors had ever referred to me as 'Mother'!
The only general such usage is the one offered in my opening response above...ie an abbreviated American curse-word.

[ladyalex]

There is "Shall I be mother ?" when pouring out tea .....that applies to either sex.

[Quizmonster]

Ladyalex, the answer directly above yours said precisely that!

[josie48]

It's like a man saying to his wife " Put the kettle on mother".

[Ethel]

Old married couples used to call each other mum and dad, or mother and father.

Stems from being parents - referring to each other in that way with the children, and it just never stopped.

Hardly ever used like that now.

[Dee Sa]

yes it is I have 50 something friends who always used to refer to each other as mother & father in front of the kids, kids now grown up and gone and we were all the car the other day and pal said to hubby "turn left father" to which he replied "yes I know that mother", normal everyday talk to this pair, just cant get out of the habit.