# What is meant by "tits"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119 "2001-04-07T03:38:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/21 "2001-04-14T22:30:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*because the latin term _cunnus_ refers to the female genitalia in general. \*\* Yes, and both glamour and grammar come from the same Latin root, but that doesn’t have much of an effect on what they mean now. In modern terms, what does the word refer to? ---
**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:** [April 14, 2001, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/22 "2001-04-14T22:38:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThisYearsGirl \* > In modern terms, what does the word refer to? Heck, I dunno. I always just assumed it (the “C” word) referred to the whole female groinal area, from perineum to just over the clitoral hood; and when I saw that the latin root referred to that area too, I just never thunked no more 'bout it. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/23 "2001-04-14T22:41:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*well, it comes from the Latin “cunnus”, which is generally translated as the female pudenda, so I would expect it includes the vagina, labia, urethra and clitoris. \*\* **Qadgop** , what’s your source on this? I think you may be getting the etymoloyg of _cunnilingus_ and _cunt_ mixed up. According to the OED, the etymology is: > [@](#): > > [ME. cunte, count(e), corresponding to ON. kunta (Norw., Sw. dial. kunta, Da. dial. kunte), OFris., MLG., MDu. kunte:Gmc. \*kuntn wk. fem.; ulterior relations uncertain.] So _cunt_ gets to English via the Nordic/Germanic language route rather than the Latin route. This matches what Websters Unabridged has: > [@](#): > > [ME cunte; akin to OFris & MLG kunte female pudenda, MD conte, Norw & Sw dial. kunta, MLG kutte female pudenda, MHG kotze prostitute, and perh. to OE cot cottage — more at COT] To make it even more interesting, here is what Webster’s has for _cot_: > [@](#): > > [ME, fr. OE; akin to MHG kuz pit as a place of execution, ON kot small hut, Goth qithus stomach, L guttur throat, Gk (Maced dial.) goda intestines, Skt guda bowel, rectum; basic meaning: round, curved] Which means that, etymologically speaking, _cunt_ is very close to _rectum_. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/24 "2001-04-14T22:44:01Z")
BTW, the OED defines _cunt_ specifically as: > [@](#): > > The female external genital organs. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/25 "2001-04-14T22:47:18Z")
Well, damn those germanic word-roots for messing up a nice straight latin derivation, anyway! I guess I made the fatal flaw of assuming that since “cunnus” = pudenda, per my handy latin/english online dictionary, that it was the origin of “cunt”. My bad. But it still won’t change what body parts I consider the term to refer to ---
**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:** [April 14, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/26 "2001-04-14T22:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > \*\*BTW, the OED defines _cunt_ specifically as: > > > [@](#): > > > > The female external genital organs. > > \*\* What Jeff said. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2001, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119/27 "2001-04-15T00:20:02Z")
Two mice are in a woman’s bedroom, watching her undress. When she takes off her slacks, one mouse turns to the other and exclaims, “Wow, look at the legs on that human!” The other shrugged and said, “Eh… I’m a titmouse myself.” :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-tits/61119.md?page=1)