Peeping Tom

I’m sure you have heard this phrase before, but I hope you haven’t been called it. A Peeping Tom is a man who is a voyeur. This person observes naked people for his own gratification. This term’s origin goes back to the 11th century.

Lady Godiva

Legend has it that Lady Godiva rode through the streets of Coventry, U.K., naked on horseback in order to convince her husband to remove the harsh taxes imposed on the town’s poor. Lady Godiva completed this task without being seen by anyone. Her husband thought this was a miracle and decided to remove the harsh taxes. Apparently, this ride through the streets is commemorated to this day; however, the participants are fully clothed.

This story did not have a Peeping Tom until the 18th century. The new addition to the story is that one of the townsfolk, Tom, peeped a look at Lady Godiva as she rode naked through the city. Due to this transgression, the harsh taxes were not removed.

I’m not sure what to say about Peeping Tom. Don’t be a Peeping Tom. Well, I guess that works.