# Cornhole **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885 "2005-12-31T20:21:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/1 "2005-12-31T20:21:27Z")
[In the chili size thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=349716) **samclem** mentions a game called ‘cornhole’. Obviously, this is very funny to many of us who have never heard an ‘innocent’ usage of the term. But where does ‘cornhole’ as a euphamism for the anus come from? My dad used to say, ‘It was rough as a cob.’ (Usually referring to turbulence while flying, or chop while boating.) Okay, corn cobs are rough. But how did _that_ phrase come to be? I assume it came from the practice of using corn cobs as ‘toilet paper’ back in the olden days. I’ve heard that outhouses used to have a bucket containing corn cobs for the purpose. So it seems reasonable to me that ‘cornhole’ became a euphamism for the anus based on the use of corn cobs in outhouses. Is this where it came from? I assume that ‘cornhole’ as an innocent game came from corn filled beanbags. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/2 "2005-12-31T20:34:06Z")
My WAG is that one possible entomologic (;)) origin is the fact that a high corn diet results in high corn thruput, visible clearly in the feces. Hence the orifice from which this kernel emerges becomes a cornhole. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/3 "2005-12-31T20:39:00Z")
My body seems to digest the entire kernel. (Or maybe I just chew my food well.) I haven’t noticed any kernels in my poo in years and years. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/4 "2005-12-31T20:39:27Z")
My 2 WAGs would be the cob-as-wiper thing and the fact that corn often passes through the system intact. I ain’t gonna YaGooJeevle “cornhole.” Nosirree, Bob. Not me. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/5 "2005-12-31T20:41:54Z")
The rest of us only have single chamber stomachs **Johnny**. That or you haven’t looked too closely. ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/6 "2005-12-31T22:16:19Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > The rest of us only have single chamber stomachs **Johnny**. That or you haven’t looked too closely. Back in the days of the one-two or three holers a really de-luxe facility had both red and white cobs-----red fer wipin’--------- ‘n’ white fer checkin’! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/7 "2005-12-31T22:59:04Z")
[A previous thread on the subject(the game)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=284295&highlight=cornhole+origin). The term _corn-hole_ to mean anus appears in print as early as 1920. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/8 "2005-12-31T23:18:28Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > So it seems reasonable to me that ‘cornhole’ became a euphamism for the anus based on the use of corn cobs in outhouses. > > Is this where it came from? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornhole/337885/9 "2006-01-01T03:03:24Z")
Cornhole is known as one of Cincinnati’s best-kept secrets, but I don’t think that will last very long. I knew of the term from [a game](http://long-ago.twocentsworth.com/2003/09/01/000852.php) when I was a kid.