# Why did sperm whales get such an unfortunate name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678 "2003-05-07T15:42:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/1 "2003-05-07T15:42:19Z")
Did someone notice the fluid from their heads and think it was semen? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/2 "2003-05-07T15:48:37Z")
I believe they were originally hunted for their spermaceti, which is contained in the head cavity. I’m guessing that spermaceti was named for the reason you suggested. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/3 "2003-05-07T16:05:37Z")
\*\*jjimm \*\* has hit the nail on the head. I recently the story of the _Essex_, a Nantucket whaling ship rammed and sunk by a sperm whale. You can probably guess which book is based on this incident. There is a fairly extensive discussion of whaling throughout the book. It turns out that the spermaceti first comes out clear and only congeals on contact with the air. After it turns, so to speak, it looks like the substance in question. Mmmm. A whaler’s deck looking like the money shot from God’s own porno. As an aside, the most valuable thing the whaler’s sought from a sperm whale was _ambergris_. Though not found in every whale it would be clump of waxy substance found in the intestines. Imagine the fun of searching through the entire GI tract of a thrity ton animal. Of course it was worth much more than its weight in gold, so looked they did. Used in perfume making, IIRC. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/4 "2003-05-07T16:05:50Z")
OED seems to think it was an error in assessing the nature of the substance. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/5 "2003-05-07T16:45:59Z")
“like the money shot from God’s own porno” Which gives a whole new meaning to the Second Coming, no? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/6 "2003-05-07T18:50:57Z")
2nd grade boys have to have _something_ to giggle about in science class. ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/7 "2003-05-07T22:17:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMensch \* > \*\*As an aside, the most valuable thing the whaler’s sought from a sperm whale was _ambergris_. Though not found in every whale it would be clump of waxy substance found in the intestines. Imagine the fun of searching through the entire GI tract of a thrity ton animal. Of course it was worth much more than its weight in gold, so looked they did. Used in perfume making, IIRC. \*\* Well, the ambergris wasn’t that hard to find because it stinks to high heaven. Seriously, I read about an entire whaling ship that had a bout of mass vomiting because of the stench of all the ambergris they had on board. It’s supposed to stink worse then a skunk’s spray does. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/8 "2003-05-07T22:43:06Z")
“Did someone notice the fluid from their heads and think it was semen?” Fish names are really easy. The Gray whale is gray, a blue jelly is blue & a sperm whale, as you noticed, appeared ‘spermy’…me thinks the brightest minds weren’t used to name animals but they do the trick. Sperm whale for a name sucks because it changes when you put it in another language, so lucky for the sperm whale they have a latin name too, Physeter Macrocefalus which has changed to Pyseter Catodon. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/9 "2003-05-07T22:52:39Z")
IIRC, ambergris is the equivalent of a “gut-pearl” (forgive the imagery) in a whale’s gut - it forms around the remains of squids - the beaks and other dangerous parts. Ambergris was valued in perfume for its ability to strengthen and extend the scent of subtle flowers, etc. So **Payton’s Servant** - it may stink in its natural state, but the scent must be removed when it was used to fortify perfumes… ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/10 "2003-05-07T22:54:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Payton’s Servant \* > \*\*Well, the ambergris wasn’t that hard to find because it stinks to high heaven. > > It’s supposed to stink worse then a skunk’s spray does. \*\* Please, God, please, dont’ let me come back as an eighteenth century whaler: “Hey! Bob’s vomiting! Let’s go see if he found some ambergris!” ---
**Author:** ![Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_to_be_Queen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/11 "2003-05-08T01:32:03Z")
The ambergris smells awful when inside the whale. When it hits air however, it starts to smell good. The warmer it gets, the better it smells. ---
**Author:** ![Mentor\_and\_Liar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mentor\_and\_Liar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mentor_and_Liar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/12 "2003-05-08T02:30:27Z")
I hope I’m not committing some kind of faux pas by continuing the highjack. However on the subject of ambergris: It’s real value to a perfumer is attained only after the whale has garked it back up and it has floated on the ocean for about ten years. It takes on it’s desirable oderiferous qualities through photochemistry. Rarity wise, you can imagine how hard it is to find a whale in the ocean, imagine trying to find a rancid ball of whale vomitus the size of a basketball. ---
**Author:** ![PhuQan\_G\_Nyus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f14d63/32.png) [@PhuQan\_G\_Nyus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhuQan_G_Nyus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/13 "2003-05-08T06:21:15Z")
the word “sperma” translates to seed not semen. spermaceti is essentially “seed from a whale”. Sperm whales form a large “seed” in the head where oils accumulate. This is what is referred to. I know this has been pointed out but not to where it is clear that the term “sperm” had nothing really to do with any thought of reproduction. It simply designated the large cache of these oils. The oil is liquid when the animal is alive but will form into a fairly hard waxy ball shortly after the animal dies. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/14 "2003-05-08T07:06:42Z")
Thanks for clearing up the ambergris thing - for years I thought it was the smegma of a whale. Think not only of the whalers having to de-cheese a whales foreskin but of all the woman slathering it on there faces!? I suppose it would make persuading her to swallow easier. ---
**Author:** ![The\_MacDairmuid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_MacDairmuid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_MacDairmuid)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/15 "2003-05-08T07:24:56Z")
… "Oh, yes, there is still SO much that I need to learn about. Like this huge lump on my head. It certainly seems to be collecting a lot of oils. I think I shall call it a zit. No, no, that’s much too vulgar. I’ll find a proper name for it when I know what it’s for. "And look, there are a great number of very small animals coming toward me in … well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before! Hmmm. They float, and there are a bunch of animals on it, let’s call them boats. Yes. But they’re very long… there might be shorter boats so I’ll call these Longboats. Oh, excellent! "I wonder, what can they want? They seem to be very excited about it. This is splendid! I haven’t had company for days! "Look now, they’ve thrown something at me! They want to play catch! Wonderful! I shall have to try my best to catch this thing. "It seems to be very long, and pointy… and sharp. Very sharp! I do hope I can catch it, I’ve never played this game. “I wonder if they will be friends with me after we finish the game.” … (Expletives deleted) … [“At least it popped that damned zit on my forehead!”] ---
**Author:** ![The\_MacDairmuid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_MacDairmuid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_MacDairmuid)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/16 "2003-05-08T07:30:31Z")
Sorry for the hijack, folks. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/17 "2003-05-08T08:19:16Z")
I get it! Nice pastiche, **The MacDairmuid**. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/18 "2003-05-08T08:24:37Z")
Hey, **The MacDairmuid**! Watch out for the petunias! ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/19 "2003-05-08T09:40:52Z")
Oh, no. Not again. * * * Sci-fi worldbuilding at [http://www.orionsarm.com/main.html](http://www.orionsarm.com/main.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678/20 "2003-05-08T10:17:25Z")
_snickers_ HHGTTG references are worth their weight in ambergris, imho. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sperm-whales-get-such-an-unfortunate-name/173678.md?page=2)