Ballsac: My Favorite Author

Sarah and I were e-mailing each other about purple prose, and Beatrice Small’s name came up. And we started talking about codpieces. I mean, of course. When talking about Beatrice Small, sooner or later the conversation will involve discussions on cones, orbs or codpieces. Hopefully the first two will be quivering as well.

Anyway, I was extremely curious about why the codpiece was called, well, a codpiece. It had never occured to me before that the first bit of the word is a freakin’ fish. What, did codpieces smell especially piscatorial, what? So off I trundled to Merriam-Webster On-Line to look it up.

And I promptly start having a monster case of the giggles. Check it:


Main Entry: cod·piece
Pronunciation: ‘käd-“pEs
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English codpese, from cod bag, scrotum (from Old English codd) + pese piece

DUDE. Codpiece = scrote-holder. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

And if you go to a restaurant and order cod en croute, you’re actually ordering an Encrusted ‘Sack. *laughs so hard she starts wheezing*

God. I don’t know why I think it’s so funny, but I do. Somewhere inside me, there’s a 13-year-old boy who thinks fart jokes are really, really funny. And I’m not talking about deep inside, either. I’m talking just-barely-lurking-under-the-surface.

Anyway, most of you writer types and history afficionados probably already know this. But I didn’t, so obviously I have to share my unholy glee with all of you. And oh dear, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look cod in the eye again.

And yes, of course I’m talking about the fish.

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Random Musings

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  1. Amy G. says:

    My favorite Bertrice-ism has to be “love grotto”. Shudder. Although there are many more to choose from, as you clearly know.

  2. Candy says:

    I’m waiting for La Beatrice to use the term “chunnel of love.” That would be so cool.

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