How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY ETYMOLOGY

Let's discuss the etymology of the body from "head" to "toe". Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins.
👅 Why is tongue spelt that way?
🍎 What did we originally call our Adam's apple?
🍆 How did our naughty bits get their names?
These questions answered and many more in a body-positive episode of Words Unravelled.

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or search for "Words Unravelled" wherever you get your podcasts.

EDITING: Martyn Williams

==LINKS==

#etymology #wordfacts #English

[Panthror]

To correct Rob a bit: in Dutch 'lijk' specifically refers to a corpse, where 'lichaam' refers to any body whether alive or dead. For example: a sentence where it means a corpse could be: 'De politie vond het lichaam...' ('The police found the body...') But you can also say: 'Dit is mijn lichaam.' ('This is my body.'), which would obviously be alive, since it's your body and you're not dead.

[caleb_]

I’m so ready to see how many times Rob turns red this episode 💀💀

[andrewbocho]

I have watched Rob on his own and that was excellent, but together with the beautiful Jess takes it above and beyond excellent. These videos should be shown in schools to educate. Keep making these, please.

[Sausageontoast]

I love how genuinely passionate you both are about words and etymology.
When Rob asks 'do you know...' it's illuminating for Jess' response 'No. Tell me!'

[RogerMillerInVA]

I'm becoming addicted to the two of you. You make a great team.

[Snagglepuss]

However you two got together to do these podcasts, it’s a match made in heaven, your enthusiasm and sheer joy at unraveling words is infectious. I have watched Robswords for ages and now with Jess this is totally addictive. I read somewhere that Jessica (Jess) was a name made up by William Shakespeare because he couldn’t find a suitable name for a character. If it’s true then the bard himself has named you, how fitting.

[westflerchinger]

Rob, such a gentleman, not wanting to move too far down the body too early!

[musingwithreba]

It is always so much fun to see Rob blush and giggle at the naughty bits 😂

[JazZia]

As someone who’s “working/going through some stuff” at the moment, your show is providing a greatly needed and welcome break following the difficunt bits - as reading and language have always been a refuge and source of comfort for me. I love how wholesome y’all’re.

[Sam_on_YouTube]

19:23 I don't want to move too far down the body too early. Generally good advice.

[_volder]

I haven't watched it yet, but, out of 46½ minutes, I'm guessing it's probably 36½ minutes of etymology, and 10 minutes of Jess pushing Rob's buttons & laughing at his reactions.

[morg]

You passed over the word Sphincter, Which as I understand is related to the Sphinx of Egypt, closely guarding its secrets.

[michaelogden]

I suppose having taken two "years" of Latin in high school made me a word geek. Latin made my medical career a LOT easier by not having to outright memorize most of the terms. But it also made me think about the roots of everyday concepts. Knocking on 70 years now, etymology is one of my favorite little pastimes. Jess and Rob make etymology even more interesting. Cheers!

[ejrandler]

6:00 atom (a-tom) means uncuttable. Dates from when we thought atoms were the most basic fundamental particles. Then we discovered electrons, protons, neutrons and other sub-atomic particles, but refused to change the name atom. So atom is a misnomer but it remains. This also create other linguistic oxymorons such as atomic fission, literally cutting up the uncuttable.

[karphin]

They aRe so funny! And Rob’s shyness around the naughty bits, is endearing.

[patlussenden]

Can’t wait for Anatomy 2: All the words for the fluids( snot and boogers etc ) and smaller bits ( veins, nerves, ear lobes etc. )

[westflerchinger]

I just love this show SOOO much, thank you thank you thank you

[adamdodd]

Speaking of two ways of interpreting body (my body and the discovery of a body, having different implications), a third meaning, meaning the grouping of several people (as in, a body of men), gives rise to the two imported forms, corpse and corps, which I presume have the same origin but are used very differently.

It always reminds me of the Blackadder joke, where General Melchett refers to the troops saying, ‘Well, fine body of men you've got out there, Blackadder.’

To which Blackadder replies, ‘Yes, sir; shortly to become fine bodies of men.’

The two meanings are surprisingly clear and distinct.

[markedis]

I was imagining a red Rob before I even clicked on the video

[michellek]

This episode was particularly informative and also a lot of fun. Seeing Rob blush it a treat. 😁