Fornication comes from the word fornix, which means "arch." In Roman times, customers used to identify the brothels by a prominent archway at the entrance. (Coincidentally, we refer to the anterior, posterior, and lateral fornices as components of the uterus, but we also have a fornix in the brain, so interpret that as you will).
HT: My Gross Anatomy Prof
Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for the possibility that this is all urban legend.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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2 comments:
Is that hat tip to your anatomy professor who is gross, or to the Professor of Gross Anatomy?
At least medics in the US still speak proper English.
Here in the UK medics have set about altering the language.
Examples are:
The use of the pronunciation UM-BEE-LIE-E-CAL for the word UM-BILL-E-CAL.
Using SER-VIE-E-CAL for SER-VICK-AL (from the Latin word cervix - pronounced as it looks).
The use of KEEMO-THERAPY instead of KEM-O-THERAPY. Probably because it uses those new scientific keemicals from a keemist as opposed to the old fashioned chemicals from a chemist.
There are more but my blood is boi-e-ling.
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