# Words that sound dirty but actually aren't **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739 "2016-01-31T11:14:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/61 "2016-02-01T18:09:31Z")
Philatelist ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/62 "2016-02-01T19:16:58Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > **Wankel** > Tit-babbler > Prickshaft You know that word is pronounced “VAHN-kel” and not how it’s spelled, right? My contribution: Spelunking ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/63 "2016-02-01T20:06:09Z")
frigate ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/64 "2016-02-01T20:08:44Z")
[Goblin Toppler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_Valley_State_Park#2013_vandalism) Gobbler’s Knob ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/65 "2016-02-01T20:59:09Z")
Petcock Panhard rod Air Lingus Dick Van Dyke Dick Trickle ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/66 "2016-02-01T21:04:33Z")
sleeve job (Yes, I got this from Firesign: _“I’ll bet you gave the guard a sleeve job!”_ It actually has to do with automotive mechanics.) ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/67 "2016-02-01T23:07:07Z")
Ululate. Woodpecker. ---
**Author:** ![funky\_little\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@funky\_little\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funky_little_lee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/68 "2016-02-02T00:50:14Z")
If names count, _Erasmus_ always sounded like a genital inflammation to me. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/69 "2016-02-02T00:57:46Z")
Nuptials. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/70 "2016-02-02T01:00:15Z")
moist ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/71 "2016-02-02T01:12:24Z")
Sultry! The night was sultry! ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/72 "2016-02-02T13:46:18Z")
matriculate ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/73 "2016-02-02T15:40:52Z")
ball joint (a car part) ball driver (a tool, AKA a ball-end hex key) prick punch (a pointed tool for making divots in metal parts) [invagination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invagination) [lucubration](https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lucubration) ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/74 "2016-02-02T16:08:34Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Titular, as in: Dolly Parton is the titular head of Dollywood. Hey, did you hear that Dolly Parton bought up the Big Lots, Piggly Wiggly, and Harris Teeter chain stores? They’re going to be combined into one store called Big Wiggly Teeters. And by the way, “titular head” also belongs on this list. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/75 "2016-02-02T16:14:13Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > ball joint (a car part) I named a few car parts too-- “bleed nipple” was my favorite-- and I just thought of another: **tie rod end**. Also, I find it amusing when garages have signs up that say “ **We do rear ends** ,” or “ **We service rear ends**.” “Rear end” refers to the differential, and other parts of a rear-wheel drive car. Fewer and fewer places keep the tools or parts on hand to do the work on them, as more and more cars are front-wheel drive, so when a place will work on them, they advertise the fact, since it can’t be assumed anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/76 "2016-02-02T16:19:52Z")
Speaking of cars, I think you blew a seal. Or someone piston their pants. Is that a Cummings? . ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/77 "2016-02-02T16:58:19Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Speaking of cars, I think you blew a seal. It was a milkshake! ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/78 "2016-02-02T17:36:54Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > People’s names: > > Lipschitz > Buttafuoco > Juan de Fuca > Dick Butkus > > … and of course, who remembers the name of the mailman on _Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood_? Also the painter Titian. (Pronounced Tee-shen) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/79 "2016-02-02T20:58:54Z")
cock-and-bull story titubate eruction Enterococcus ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739/80 "2016-02-02T23:41:33Z")
Fructose Pagination Pistachio Anal. Chem. (as an abbreviation of analytical chemistry) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-actually-arent/744739.md?page=5)