Why did someone feel compelled to name the taint area?

Question

When there are other parts of the body that aren't named. Why isn't there a name for the back of the hand? Or not a widely recognized one, anyway...

I know that it's called the perineum. I'm just wondering why there's common vernacular for...that...but the back of the hand is just called the back of the hand and not the...kiffle or some made up word like that.

Answer 1

All parts of the body are named, including parts you wouldn't even know what I was talking about if I gave you the name. "Perineum" is a Latin-based term from anatomy just as all the following terms are:

"Palatoglossus" - the area of the mouth connecting the uvula and the palate.
"Coccyx" - the "tail bone"
"Gastrocnemius" - the calf muscle
"Atlas and Axis" - the two uppermost cervical vertabrae
"Olecranon fossa" - the hollow in the humerus where the ulna attaches
"Ureter" - the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder
etc..

I don't believe that the term "perineum" is actually all that well known, but if it is, then the question should be "why do most people know the proper anatomical term for the perineum but not for other parts of the body" rather than "why did someone feel compelled to name the taint area". After all, someone felt compelled to name all the areas.

Now if you're asking why it was given the slang name "taint", that answer is the same as it is for all other parts of the body that we consider "taboo" to discuss: it's simply a euphemism. Rather than saying penis, vagina, rectum, and perineum, people say silly things like dingdong, weewee, ******, and taint. People don't use euphemisms for "back of the hand" or "vertebrae" or "biceps" because they don't find these terms embarrasing to discuss. We didn't come up with euphemisms for less commonly known terms such as the "ureter", even though they might be potentially embarrassing if they belong to the reproductive system or urinary tract (as "ureter" does), because they are not often discussed, partly due to the fact they're entirely internal. We only bother to come up with euphemisms for the "naughty bits" that we actually come into contact with on a regular basis.

Answer 2

I understand what you're asking. I guess someone named it the "taint" for one of two reasons: either for the sake of sheer cleverness, because you can imagine the sort of wit necessary to come up with the idea that "it taint the d*ck and it taint the @sshole". I mean, isn't that catchy? Another possibility is that before this area was so aptly named, people really did get confused about the difference between the genital region and the rectum, and thus felt the need to distinguish this area. Just a couple of guesses. Maybe there is no special slang for the back of the hand, per your example, because there is nothing really distinctive, crude, or humorous about the area.

Answer 3

Sure there is...it's the back of your hand. If you say "The back of my hand", everyone knows what you're talking about. There's probably even a medical name for it, just like there's actually a medical name for the "taint" - I believe it is the perineum if memory serves correctly. But someone had to come up with a crude name for it because it's "down there" in an area that's considered taboo for discussion.

Answer 4

Talk to a medical student; there is a name for every part of the body (including the "taint"; known as the perineum).

Answer 5

all areas of the body are named including the dorsum(back of hand) but nice try and the 'taint' is the perineum

Answer 6

Taint isn't really a name it's more of a description just like the "back of the hand".

Answer 7

he he he. There's no name for that line on a sack that separates the two nuts. Or at least, I don't know what it's called.
Test-ti-vider.

Answer 8

What I have been told about the way it got its name is: Oldtimers named it that because "t'aint" (the p word)" and "t'aint"(the a** word)

Answer 9

i have 'pet' name for most of my body parts

Answer 10

You're stupid.





















Is that better? (-: