Consider the word "berk" - a fairly mild sounding insult that's a bit like "jerk" - but which actually implies something rather stronger.
For instance, femme -> meuf -> feumeu, of which I regularly hear the second in my unhip rural area, but have not yet heard the third.
Argies reportedly have chambon -> boncha -> chabón.
Whatever the etymology, berk is considered no worse than jerk hereabouts (UK.)