[thechat] English Language Terms

[Martin Paul Burns]

Syed wrote:

>In elementary books, the word "cock" means a male hen. But I
>now realize that in America it means something entirely different. This
word is
>used for the male genital. I have noticed Americans using the word
"rooster" for
>male hen.

I understand that that usage largely grew because of the double meaning of
'cock' which Victorian American society found unacceptable.

A lot of US places were renamed at about the same time, although the
censors missed the Grand Tetons...

Cheers
Martin