Solids and wetness - euphemisms (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Laurence Horn]

At 10:59 AM -0500 6/6/08, Mullins, Bill AMRDEC wrote:
>Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
>Caveats: NONE
>
>One of the standard euphemisms in my house (17 month old son) is
>"poosaster".

Or its ablaut variant, the "peesaster".

LH

>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: American Dialect Society
>>  [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Benjamin Barrett
>>  Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 2:31 AM
>>  To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>  Subject: Solids and wetness - euphemisms
>>
>>  ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>  -----------------------
>>  Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>  Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
>>  Subject:      Solids and wetness - euphemisms
>>  --------------------------------------------------------------
>>  -----------------
>>
>>  I wonder if the AHD4 adequately covers the diaper meaning of
>>  solids or wetness.
>>
>>  Relevant definitions:
>>  solid n. 1. A substance having a definite shape and volume;
>>  one that is neither liquid nor gaseous.
>>  wetness n. 1. The condition of being wet. 2. Moisture
>>
>>  Citations -----
>>  1. Why you'll LOVE using Fuzzi Bunz Cloth Diapers:[...]
>>  (a) Soft, waterproof outer material keeps wetness & messes
>>  where they belong preventing leaks....
>>  (b) Fleece is naturally stain resistant and prevents solids
>>  from sticking. (http://www.parentingbynature.com/fuzzi_bunz.htm)
>>
>>  2. Just dump solids in toilet, if it [sic] does not fall out
>>  then put in hamper, the washing machine will do the rest.
>>  (http://www.perc.ca/waste-line/articles/diaper.html)
>>
>>  3. (a) On most packs of disposable diapers, the user is
>>  instructed to dispose of solids in the toilet before putting
>>  the diaper in the trash....
>>  (b) While they do, in some ways, present less of an impact on
>>  the environment, they still contain many of the same
>>  chemicals, most importantly the polymers that absorb your
>>  baby's wetness and form gel beads.
>>  (http://www.fieldoflowers.net/index.php?main_cont=why)
>>
>>  4. Also, the fact that the diaper doesn't immediately wick
>>  away wetness like the disposables means that our little one
>>  tells us when his diaper is wet and this will make toilet
>>  training much easier. (http://www.amazon.com/review/R12U09D6YTBTID
>>  )
>>
>>  5. Chaffing or contact allergies can be culprits, but most
>>  often the cause is simply wetness - chemicals and enzymes in
>>  urine and stools can constitute quite the toxic cocktail when
>>  left to marinate a soft baby's bottom.
>>  (http://www.babble.com/content/articles/widelydiscussed/newbor
>>  n/diaperrash/
>>  )
>>  -----
>>
>>  "Solids" seems the easier case. In citations 2 and 3 (a), in
>>  particular, the item being referred to isn't solids in
>>  general, but specifically feces. "Solids" seems to derive
>>  from "solid wastes."
>>
>>  "Wetness" is a little murkier. Nobody would confuse the
>>  nature of "my jacket is wet" with "my diaper is wet" or "the
>>  wetness (of my jacket)"
>>  with "the wetness (of my diaper)" but as there isn't a better
>>  adjective readily available (such as urine-soaked), context
>>  is potentially what makes the difference, rather than an
>>  actual separate meaning.
>>
>>  In citation 4, both "wet" and "wetness" seem to be ordinary
>>  on the surface, but "wick away wetness" indicates the process
>>  of a diaper funneling urine away from the source (the penis)
>>  to an absorbent pad where the urine will not cause skin
>>  irritation. In citations 1 (a) and
>>  3 (b), "wetness" seems to clearly indicate urine, though
>>  citation 5 specifically includes fecal moisture in the
>>  concept of "wetness."
>>
>>  I'm not sure how the line is defined, but it seems that both
>>  of these have very specific meanings that deserve separate
>>  definitions. What do others think? BB
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------
>>  The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>
>Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
>Caveats: NONE
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org