Abstract
The paper discusses the question whether Slavonic words for 'skull', 'head', 'hand' and 'foot' are dysphemisms originating in the ancient soldiers' slang as is sometimes suggested. The Proto-Slavonic *čerp, meaning originally 'shard', developed the meaning 'skull' in some Slavonic languages which may imply the idea of smashing pots and cups (= heads) into shards in the battle.
Other examples from Indo-European languages show, however, that the referring to skulls and heads as 'cups', 'pots' or 'vessels' is probably an old metaphor based on the shape of these body parts. The Slavonic words for 'head' and 'hand', whose etymologies point to original meanings 'bald head' and 'picker, scoop' respectively, may be taboo words, but, apparently, their meaning is not pejorative or vulgar.
Only the Slavonic word for 'foot' seems to be a dysphemism having developed from the meaning 'hoof '. In any case, it is difficult to tell the original expressive value of old Slavonic terms from today's perspective.