# What does p.u. mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-p-u-mean/212726>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 12, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-p-u-mean/212726 "2003-11-12T01:01:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [November 12, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-p-u-mean/212726/1 "2003-11-12T01:01:47Z")

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Everyone says it when odorifious scents fill the air. Mention those 2 letters in a crowd and everyone’s nostrils do their little dance. But what does p.u. mean? Even [Acronym Finder](http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=exact&Acronym=pu&Find=Find) states it is not an acronym. It had to come from somewhere. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-p-u-mean/212726/2 "2003-11-12T01:32:00Z")

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It’s “short” for _phewwwwww!!!_

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-p-u-mean/212726/3 "2003-11-12T02:00:58Z")

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This web page traces it back to Sanskrit:

[http://hinduwebsite.com/general/sanskrit\_english.htm](http://hinduwebsite.com/general/sanskrit_english.htm)

This one makes note of the PIE root \*_pu_, meaning “rot, stink”  
[http://www.etymonline.com/p11etym.htm](http://www.etymonline.com/p11etym.htm)

This appears to be a very ancient word.

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**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-p-u-mean/212726/4 "2003-11-12T02:37:46Z")

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Try the [Phrase Finder](http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/20/messages/310.html).