December 8, 2006

"What Britney's Crotch Did To My Stats."

Sissy's right. But I was just doing my usual thing of talking about Camille Paglia. I just hope Camille -- she of the dinner dis -- realizes that she has more currency around here than Britney's crotch.

BONUS LINGUISTIC INSIGHT: I do not like the word "crotch" to refer the body part in question. Here's the dictionary definition:
crotch

NOUN: 1. The angle or region of the angle formed by the junction of two parts or members, such as two branches or legs. 2a. The area on a pair of pants, underpants, or shorts where the two leg panels are sewn together. b. A piece of material sewn into a pair of pants, underpants, or shorts that joins the legs. 3. The fork of a pole or other support.

ETYMOLOGY: Possibly alteration of crutch and partly from Middle English croche, crook, crosier (from Old French croche, hook, shepherd's crook, feminine of croc, hook; see crochet).
See? To refer to the vulva as a "crotch" is to wish it out of existence, to see it as simply the place where one leg becomes the other leg!

Now, go crochet yourself a pair of panties, and beware of the female crocodile... and the vagina dentata.

28 comments:

David said...

We should have known this was coming when Victoria's Secret started giving panties away free with a purchase. If bra's are named the "Secret Embrace" how far behind can a panty be named "G spot!" no cover charge.

Girls gone wild indeed!

Sissy Willis said...

Thanks, doll! :-)

Meade said...

Ms Ehlers said she was inspired after meeting a traumatised rape victim who told her, "If only I had teeth down there."

Ruth Anne Adams said...
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Ann Althouse said...

For a great, but NSFW, picture of the vagina dentata, go here.

I'm Full of Soup said...

A college freshman (my nephew) complained that he could not go surfing on the day after Thanksgiving because he had to go get his tux for his sister's upcoming wedding...And he stated his complaint during Thanksgiving dinner as follows "all they do is fit your jacket and measure your crotch- I can get that done any time".

Bissage said...

Also NSFW. But click anyway. Come on. You know you want to.

Anonymous said...

Let us go back to the thrilling days in late February 2006 (the 22,to be exact), when "crotchy" was all the rage here.

Aren't we glad that Sasha Cohen didn't go all Britney on us?

Anonymous said...

How do you feel about the alternative "groin". It has the unpleasant "oy" sound that many dislike. (Almost without fail, when I've asked women for their least favorite word, the response is "moist".)

As a bonus for groin though, its etymology is from the Old English for "abyss".

Ann Althouse said...

Hey, Ruth Anne, don't you see that Wurly is trying to compete as Historian of the Althouse Blog?!

Ann Althouse said...

"Groin" is an incredibly ugly word. Whoever says "groin" except in phrases like "groin injury" and "kicked in the groin." To much like "groan." Also kind of like "growin'."

El Presidente said...

Groin is way up on the ugly words list. I believe that avulsion is perhaps the ugliest. Don't even get me started on groin avulsions.

Do not, repeat do not, do a google image search of avulsion. It's not just the word, the real thing is ugly too.

Ann Althouse said...

I love "avulsion." It comes up every year in CivPro when we do Kroger.

reader_iam said...

I loved this take: Bette Midler cops to wearing Britney's Underwear. And more..

reader_iam said...
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reader_iam said...

Crotches and groins deserve each other. Nasty, ugly-sounding words, as words, the both of 'em. Right up there with the names Bertha and Ralph.

reader_iam said...

But "groin" is an exception for me; I'm just fine with the "oi" sound, even in moist: No doubt because it makes me think of the speech pattern of my late (native New Yorker--not Manhattan) grandmother and her family.

Rendell said...

Isn't it a groinal injury?

I like the word crotch exactly because it's a eumphemism, that's precise in the region specified, but lets you think of the area of the clothing rather than anything more specific...

Ruth Anne Adams said...
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Ann Althouse said...

Note that in both those prior examples of my using crotch/crotchy, I really was saying make it go away.

Anonymous said...

The list

Most of the names for "down there" are vulgar and rude, but some are kind of sweet, like "tinkleflower" or "the southern smile" or "yum yum".

As far as the actual photos causing all this discussion, how does the mother end up with diaper rash, anyway?

Ron said...

Crotches and groins that are bare, Oh My!

How does one floss a vagina dentata?

That first pic looked like Ferengi teeth...

Maybe for halloween, there should be a 'phony teeth' vagina dentata, like an equivalent of a Groucho nose and glasses for the penis... a laff riot as they say!

Ruth Anne Adams said...
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knox said...

I dunno, "vulva" is not exactly a gorgeous word either...

David said...

I drive a vulva! It gets 30 miles to the gallon and overheats with moderate use.

Oh! I see!

Damn Swedes!

nunzio said...

pudenda

paul a'barge said...

Have you seen the pictures of Britney's crotch?

The description you provide, of one limb meeting another with nothing else there, is spot on.

Ruth Anne Adams said...
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