Erosophia

Tag: Sexual Etymology

  • Polyamory is Wrong!

    by Jason Stotts I saw this come across the twitter earlier today (via @kellyelmore79) and several people were kind enough to forward it to me as well. I think it’s one of the best things I’ve seen in awhile. I share this etymological worry myself.  As I said in “On Polysexuality“: What I am interested in analyzing…

  • Sexual Etymology

    by Jason Stotts Last year I started a weekly segment called “Sexual Etymology.”  In it, I went through words related to sex and took a look at their etymological origins to see if these origins could inform our current understanding of these words and their use. Unfortunately, in the move from Blogspot, I forgot about…

  • Sexual Etymology: Sadism, Masochism, and Candaulism

    by Jason Stotts Today’s words are all etymologically interesting as they are not derived from other languages, but as a reference to the names of their originators. Sadism – the enjoyment of another’s pain or suffering, usually in a sexual context.  The name is a reference to the Marquis de Sade, author of 120 Days…

  • Sexual Etymology: Ejaculate and Cum

    by Jason Stotts There are many words in our language to describe orgasm, but two of the more etymologically interesting are “ejaculate” and “cum.” Ejaculate – 1578, “emit semen,” from L. ejaculatus, pp. of ejaculari, from ex- “out” + jaculari “to throw, dart,” from jaculum “javelin,” from jacere “to throw.” Only other surviving sense is “exclaim suddenly” (1666). (ejaculate) Interestingly, until…

  • Sexual Etymology: Hymen and Orgasm

    by Jason Stotts In this week’s edition of Sexual Etymology, we’re going to be looking at “hymen” and “orgasm. Hymen – 1615, from Fr. hymen (16c.), ult. from Gk. hymen “virginal membrane, thin skin.” Originally any membrane; present specific meaning begins with Vesalius, 1550. Hymeneal “wedding hymn” is 1717, from L. hymenaeus, from Gk. hymenaios “belonging to wedlock, wedding, wedding…

  • Sexual Etymology: Fellatio and Cunnilingus

    by Jason [Note: today’s words are from Etymonline.com and not Chambers, since Chambers didn’t have these words listed] Today’s words are the technical names for “blow job” (fellatio) and “eating out” (cunnilingus). Fellatio: 1887, from Latin fellatus, pp. of fellare “to suck,” from PIE base *dhe- (see fecund). The sexual partner performing fellatio is a fellator;…

  • Sexual Etymology: Penis and Vagina

    by Jason Stotts In this week’s edition of Sexual Etymology, we’re going to look at the origins of the words “penis” and “vagina.” I think you might be somewhat surprised at what we find. Vagina: (n.) passage from the uterus to the vulva.  1682, New Latin, from Latin vagina (sheath, scabbard) perhaps cognate with Lithuanian vozti…

  • Sexual Etymology: Masturbation

    by Jason Stotts In a series I’m going to be calling “sexual etymology,” I’m going to explore the origins of some of the words that are in our sexual vocabulary.  I’m going to do this once a week or so.  If you have any requests, make them in the comments and I’ll add the word…