# Why are girly bits referred to as "beavers"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 12, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999 "2002-10-12T21:52:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/21 "2002-10-13T03:33:13Z")

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Hm, looks like my WAG turned out to be right after all. Go me.

So was there ever a point in history where beaver was used as an allusion to pubic hair _without_ referring to the bits themselves?

And, as usual, thanks for all the responses, even the way inevitable hijacks. 😉

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/22 "2002-10-13T07:31:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bumbazine \*  
> \*\*On a related, but otherwise mundane and pointless, note, I direct your attention to [Oregon State University](http://www.orst.edu/), whose mascot is the beaver. Perhaps you might even like to purchase some [Beaver merchandise?](http://www.fansedge.com/fe/outlet/store212.htm) \*\*

As a loyal Oregon State alumnis, I must say the new design for [“Athletic Beaver”](http://web.acsalaska.net/~fmurtley/newbenny.jpg), the team mascot, is not nearly as entertaining as the old [“Benny Beaver”](http://web.acsalaska.net/~fmurtley/oldbenny.jpg) mascot. Though the thought of an “Athletic Beaver” does have its interesting aspect…

> [@](#):
>
> _**I’m a Beaver  
> You’re a Beaver  
> We are Beavers All;  
> And when we get together,  
> We give the Beaver call;  
> NIKNIKNIKNIKNIK!!!**_

And, yes **minty** , there was an unsanctioned t-shirt worn by some of the cheerleaders that said **You Can’t Lick Our Beavers!**

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**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/23 "2002-10-13T08:10:55Z")

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And, of course, the Canadian hardware store named Beaver Lumber (or something similar).

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**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/24 "2002-10-13T15:47:58Z")

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And I-75 (in Michigan) has exit 69 at Big Beaver Road. So driving alone, you see the familiar green sign that says: “Big Beaver Exit 69”.

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**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/25 "2002-10-13T16:25:33Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Colibri \*  
> \*\*  
> (Not to mention the Beav’s name: Beaver Cleaver) \*\*

I have an incredibly dirty mind, but this was just so obvious that it never entered my brain. The innocence of the Beav overruled any possible dirty thoughts. I’ve been laughing for 5 minutes now, at the name and my own stupidity.

Who is at the door? That little Beaver Cleaver… what a dick.

I need more coffee or something… this is still striking me as incredibly funny!

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**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:** [October 13, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/26 "2002-10-13T16:49:08Z")

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Because they have big teeth?

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**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/27 "2002-10-13T17:05:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rowrrbazzle \*  
> \*\*Don’t forget Beaver College (now Arcadia U.). \*\*

Haha, I remember that! Their bookstore finally put up a web page less than a month before the name change, so I was able to buy a “Beaver College” sweatshirt just in time!

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**Author:** ![ohioshrink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/73ab20/32.png) [@ohioshrink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohioshrink)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/28 "2002-10-13T17:25:33Z")

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I just have to add that in northern Kentucky ther is a town called Beaver Lick which is just down the road from Big Bone Lick State Park.

Only in Kentucky.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/29 "2002-10-13T18:29:13Z")

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Not that their sports teams are anything to speak of, but the beaver is also the mascot of MIT. Which actually makes a good deal of sense, if your mind’s out of the gutter: The beaver is the engineer of the animal kingdom.

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**Author:** ![KillerFig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/51bf81/32.png) [@KillerFig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KillerFig)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/30 "2002-10-13T22:29:33Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by cjhoworth \*  
> \*\*The sad thing is, just north of Pittsburgh, there’s a town called Beaver which is on the Beaver River. Let the double-entendre’s begin!
> 
> CJ \*\*

Oh, it doesn’t stop there. Beaver is just one town in Beaver County (where I grew up); a few towns north is Beaver Falls, where one could go see movies at the Big Beaver Plaza. After the movie, one could go have dinner at the diner in the plaza, named–I swear I’m not making this up–Sadie’s Big Beaver Restaurant.

I’m not sure if Sadie (or whoever owns the place now) is aware of how hilarious this is.

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**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/31 "2002-10-13T22:59:43Z")

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There’s a gynecologist at Wake Forest named Dr. Beaver.

From what I hear, he doesn’t have a sense of humor about it.

> [@](#):
>
> I just have to add that in northern Kentucky ther is a town called Beaver Lick which is just down the road from Big Bone Lick State Park.

Somewhere up in there you’ll find Beaver Lick Baptist Church. (I’ve never seen it, but I’m sure it is widely photographed.)

Dr. J

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**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/32 "2002-10-13T23:23:13Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rowrrbazzle \*  
> \*\*Don’t forget Beaver College (now Arcadia U.). \*\*

I attended Cheltenham Senior High School, whose tennis courts are directly across Limekiln Pike from Beaver College. Sure, go ahead and change the name. Like ANYONE who grew up there is gonna call that place " Arcadia ".

Please. :rolleyes: I always wanted to see what the Castle was like…

Cartooniverse

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**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/33 "2002-10-14T00:32:28Z")

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When I lived in Japan there was an airconditioner that was also a heater and it was called a Beaver!  
In the TV commercial, a young Japanese women stood there shivering and saying “brrrrr cold Beaver!”, then the heater bit was put on and she warmed up saying “mmm warm Beaver!”.  
I got the joke and was mildly amused when viewing the ad from the Westerner’s perspective, but never was half amused as my American friends! Although we have much slang for this body part, ‘Beaver’ is not one used by Bristish English speakers.

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**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/34 "2002-10-14T06:38:48Z")

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From the Daily Show:

“Beaver College in Western Pennsylvania is changing their name because they are sick of the jokes. The new name: Beaver University.”

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**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/35 "2002-10-15T17:10:14Z")

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“And, of course, the Canadian hardware store named Beaver Lumber (or something similar).”

Or the Chicago-area hardware/lumber chain, Crafty Beaver.

> **[Hardware Store - Lumber Yard - Home Improvement Store - Crafty Beaver](https://craftybeaver.com/)**
>
> Product selection, competitive price & expert advice are why so many Chicagoland do-it-yourselfers and professionals choose us as their "go-to" hardware store.

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**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/36 "2002-10-15T17:57:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \*  
> Because they have big teeth?

In Swedish we say _mouse_ (or rather the Swedish word with same meaning, _mus_), also a furry animal with relatively big, pointed, teeth? Does all this say something about male castration complex? 😃

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/37 "2002-10-15T18:12:36Z")

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The head of my old department was named Harold Beaver. Out of respect, we seldom called him Harry.

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**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/38 "2002-10-15T18:45:13Z")

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I can’t believe no one has yet mentioned the excellent ski resort located in Beaver **Creek** , CO.

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**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/39 "2002-10-15T19:17:14Z")

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Beaver Lumber is no more, they were bought out by Home Hardware…

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-girly-bits-referred-to-as-beavers/131999/40 "2002-10-15T20:06:30Z")

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I suspect you’d get a chuckle at most every business in the town of Beaver.

Beaver Storage  
Beaver Cleaners  
Beaver Diner  
Beaver U-Haul  
Beaver Gas  
Beaver Florists  
Beaver Taxidermy  
Beaver Electric, etc.

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