Fruitcake Fruit (slang)

an american version of fruitcake contains both fruit , nuts.

fruitcakes, cakes containing both fruit , nuts, have been in existence since middle ages, unclear when term started being used disparagingly, in united kingdom , united states, slur crazy person (e.g. s complete fruitcake ) although cassell s dictionary of slang traces uses of fruitcake meaning eccentric (crazy) person 1910s. derived expression nutty fruitcake , first recorded in 1935. nut can either seed or fruit.

by 1930s both fruit , fruitcake terms seen not negative mean male homosexual, although not universally. should noted lgbt people diagnosed diseased potential being cured, regularly treated castration, lobotomies, pudic nerve surgery, , electroshock treatment. due this, transferring meaning of fruitcake, nutty, deemed insane, or crazy, may have seemed rational @ time , many apparently believed lgbt people mentally unsound. in united states, psychiatric institutions ( mental hospitals ) many of these procedures carried out called fruitcake factories while in 1960s australia called fruit factories.

from 1942 1947, conscientious objectors in assigned psychiatric hospitals under civilian public service exposed abuses throughout psychiatric care system , instrumental in reforms of 1940s , 1950s.