# What does the KY in KY Jelly Lubricant Stand For? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102 "2001-08-31T12:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/21 "2001-09-01T10:31:24Z")
Here’s the link from Pharmweb… [http://www.pharmweb.net/forum/0094/2000/msg00061.html](http://www.pharmweb.net/forum/0094/2000/msg00061.html) ---
**Author:** ![RainbowDragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@RainbowDragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainbowDragon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/22 "2001-09-04T12:51:12Z")
It does seem logical that KY stands for kymograph. From reading sites referenced by google on kymograph, we are talking about the same time period for both the machine and the trademarked name (early 1900’s). OK, so why is KY jelly named after a kymograph? Was it developed to lubricate the machine or was it beneficial to attach the kymograph to the subject using KY jelly? Why use KY jelly, when other lubricants would do the job just as well? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/23 "2001-09-06T02:30:34Z")
My take on the [KY Jelly](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=60652) question. ---
**Author:** ![RainbowDragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@RainbowDragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainbowDragon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/24 "2001-09-24T12:26:27Z")
Finally got a response from Johnson & Johnson via their webpage feedback: [QUOTE] _From [NETJCIC@cpcus.jnj.com](mailto:NETJCIC@cpcus.jnj.com)_ \*\* Thank you for contacting Personal Products Company. We appreciate your interest in our products. The origin of the K-Y Brand name has never been clearly documented. Research scientists arbitrarily assigned the letters to the product. Thank you again for your inquiry. If you have additional questions, please feel free to call our toll free number, 1-800-582-6097. Our nurses and pharmacists are available from 8-5 Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/25 "2001-09-26T21:08:34Z")
Unca Cece saw this thread, and the question is one of two he addresses in this week’s column (not online yet). Cecil came to the same conclusion as that posted by **RainbowDragon** –no one knows. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/26 "2001-09-26T21:21:16Z")
I just find it kind of interesting that Johnson&Johnson have nurses on standby to answer your questions about KY. You just know they’ve got some stories to tell. ---
**Author:** ![ealewis559](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@ealewis559](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ealewis559)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/27 "2011-03-05T04:29:42Z")
so today in physics class It dawned on me… you see we were talking about harmonic oscillations in springs and there is a constant coefficient for how much something stretches, and as you can probably guess it is represented by KY so basically KY warming jelly basically just means " stretching warming jelly" not the best visual but if you think about lubricants intended use well It makes some sense. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/28 "2011-03-05T04:37:45Z")
Does it work on Zombies? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/29 "2011-03-05T04:38:44Z")
> [@ealewis559](#): > > so today in physics class It dawned on me… So where you been the last 10 years? We’ve been waiting for your answer![sup]\*[/sup] \*See the date on the last post before yours? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/30 "2011-03-05T06:52:15Z")
Two days after this thread originally ended, [the Master spoke](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2318/are-there-kegel-exercises-for-men-plus). ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/31 "2011-03-05T14:50:20Z")
A potassium-yttrium based ointment? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/32 "2011-03-05T17:45:51Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Snappy comeback #1: Kentucky. It’s finger lickin’ good! [Andrew Dice Clay] **OH!!!** [/Andrew Dice Clay] ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102/33 "2011-03-06T23:41:32Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Snappy comeback #1: Kentucky. It’s finger lickin’ good! Soooooooorrrrrrry Tennessee! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ky-in-ky-jelly-lubricant-stand-for/79102.md?page=1)