Rimming, the sexual practice often seen in Adult movies, and simulated in Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie, Brüno, was once used as a form of punishment for criminals and other prisoners, such as prisoners of war. For those who don’t know what rimming is (also known as anilingus or a rim job), it’s the practice of licking another persons rectum for sexual arousal. Rimming can also be used for sexual pleasure or as a form of erotic humiliation.
Needless to say, licking the rear end of another person is risky business. There’s always the possibility of “left overs” being slurped up, which can lead to devastating medical conditions, which in times gone by would have almost certainly caused death. There’s also the risk of noxious gasses being discharged directly into ones face, though not usually a health risk, it’s rather embarrassing. And that was the purpose of this particular punishment, to humiliate.
The use of rimming as punishment had been in use for longer than the written word can record. When rimming was used as punishment it was often done in public, and it was of course forced.
The use of rimming as a form of punishment was described in a novel based during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). The novel was written in 1668 by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. Although it was written some 20 years after the events of the wars end, it is one of the most reliable sources of the use of rimming as punishment.
Today it’s not used as a form of punishment, but more for entertainment purposes or sexual pleasure. The term itself, rear licking, is often used to describe those who are too helpful to someone in authority.
