# Is 'pussy' an obscenity (as in 'he's a pussy') **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644 "2016-02-09T20:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/61 "2016-02-10T21:51:33Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > This morning’s Washington Post Express wrote it out as “p—y.” I chuckled. I wonder if anyone reading it is going to interpret it as “panty” or something else. “puppy” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/62 "2016-02-10T22:00:39Z")
Well this is new twist on an old favourite. My understanding has always been that “pussy” in this context is merely a contraction of “pussycat” i.e. that the person is meek, inoffensive and timid. Never even considered that it is meant in the more genital manner. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/63 "2016-02-10T22:18:35Z")
I just find it so weird that there are so many of you who hear it as referring to pussycat. Is that still a common word where you are? Because, where I am, the only people who use that word are deliberately referencing the other meaning. It feels like trying to say “gay” is still sometimes used to be mean happy. The problem I have with anyone thinking it refers to a cat is–in what world are cats weak? They step lightly, so pussyfooting makes sense. But pissing off a cat is one of the stupidest things you can do. They have claws and teeth for a reason. It seems to me that, if pussy means “cat-like,” then it should mean a fiercely independent person who steps lightly but will lash out if attacked. That’s not weak at all. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/64 "2016-02-10T23:14:22Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The problem I have with anyone thinking it refers to a cat is–in what world are cats weak? They step lightly, so pussyfooting makes sense. But pissing off a cat is one of the stupidest things you can do. They have claws and teeth for a reason. > > It seems to me that, if pussy means “cat-like,” then it should mean a fiercely independent person who steps lightly but will lash out if attacked. That’s not weak at all. [[QUOTE=Dictionary.com](http://QUOTE=Dictionary.com)] **pussycat** noun 1. a cat; pussy. 2. Informal. a person or thing not at all threatening: _a pussycat underneath all his gruffness._ [/QUOTE] [[QUOTE=TheFreeDictionary.com](http://QUOTE=TheFreeDictionary.com)] **pussycat** n. 1. A cat. 2. Informal One who is regarded as easygoing, mild-mannered, or amiable. Cite: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. [/QUOTE] [[QUOTE=Merriam-Webster.com](http://QUOTE=Merriam-Webster.com)] Simple Definition of pussycat : a cat or kitten : a person who has a kind and gentle nature Full Definition of pussycat 1 : cat 2 : one that is weak, compliant, or amiable : softy Examples of pussycat He looks tough, but he’s really a pussycat [/QUOTE] In my experience, this second, metaphorical meaning of “pussycat” is somewhat old-fashioned, but not so much so as using the word “pussycat” or “pussy” to refer to an actual cat. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/65 "2016-02-11T17:07:05Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I suppose it depends on if he means “pussycat” or pussy meaning vagina. It’s like cock, I guess - do you mean rooster or a dick? In some parts of the country, cock = vagina. Figure that one out, if you can. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/66 "2016-02-11T20:45:28Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Well this is new twist on an old favourite. > > My understanding has always been that “pussy” in this context is merely a contraction of “pussycat” > i.e. that the person is meek, inoffensive and timid. Never even considered that it is meant in the more genital manner. Interesting idea, but there are some subtle differences. A “pussycat” means someone who is easy-going and friendly. A “pussy” means someone who is weak and cowardly. When someone says “Don’t be such a pussy” they aren’t saying “Be less friendly”. A synonym for “pussycat” (referring to a human) is “teddy bear”. Neither of those mean “coward”. However, you may be on to something as “pussy” is a synonym for “fraidy cat”. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/67 "2016-02-11T21:37:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On two different occasions I’ve heard elderly, doddering women refer to their pet cats as their pussies. Try keeping a straight face when your friend’s granny tells you about her sick pussy. Agatha Christie’s books talk about “dear old pussies” referring to elderly women. > [@jtur88](#): > > No. The word even appears in children’s nursery rhymes and in the common names of plants such as the pussywillow. So, it is not obscene unless used in a way in which it is intended to make an obscene reference. Just as dick and balls and ass and many other such words are not obscene unless the user wishes them to be interpreted that way. Language changes. 400 years ago, “nice” was an insult. Sure, many words CAN be used innocently, but in many cases, the obscene/vulgar usage tends to drive out the polite one. That’s why you virtually never hear of any man under the age of 70 referred to as Dick. Be honest–if you heard somebody say “Get off your ass,” would you really be likely to think that he was talking to someone on a donkey? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/68 "2016-02-11T22:20:02Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > All right, there’s always the smart ass that trots this one out. I guess this time it can be me. > > How about arguing that you were going for a shortened form of “pusillanimous” but thought it would go over the heads of your intended audience? You can’t be the ‘smart ass’ this time, because if you argued that you would be dead wrong. Those two words are etymologically unrelated - and I have a Language Log cite to prove it: [Pussy and pusillanimous](http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=24012). In addition to not being related, the pussy and the first syllables of pusillanimous are also pronounced differently. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/69 "2016-02-12T00:42:06Z")
When George Steinbrenner called Hikedi Irabu a “pussy toad” some years back (when they both were alive), the papers rendered it all sorts of different ways, e.g. “pus-y”, I suppose to avoid any appearance of obscenity, though “pussy” is in fact the proper spelling. Had George chosen the word “purulent”, the problem could have been avoided. I’m 99% sure I posted something like this before apropos of something else. But some stories never get old. ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/70 "2016-02-12T02:35:18Z")
Still seems obvious that any network like that want’s to avoid angry viewers. It’s inappropriate to call someone a pussy in that context because some people will find it offensively immature and it’s easier to just bleep it out and avoid any potential problems. It’s CNN for crying out loud, besides if you have to resort to calling someone names then you are out of anything intelligent to say. ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644/71 "2016-02-12T19:34:00Z")
You’d be angry at pussy, too, if you had to import yours from Slovenia or the Czech Republic every decade before your old pussy was even paid off! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pussy-an-obscenity-as-in-hes-a-pussy/745644.md?page=3)