cojones, huevos (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Fri, Sep 07, 2012 at 09:57:28AM -0500, Mullins, Bill AMRDEC wrote:
> Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
> Caveats: NONE
>
> OED has 1966 for cojones = testicles (literally) and 1932 for cojones = guts, fortitude
>
> Cedric Salter _Try-Out in Spain_ NY: Harper & brothers, 1943 p 213
> "These delicacies were all served as "rabbit," either in the form of an indescribable stew or in mincemeat balls, universally, if impolitely, known as "cojones de conejo." "
>
>
> Allan Chase _The Five Arrows_ NY: Random House 1944 p. 69
> "I'd sooner lose my cojones."
>
>
>
> OED has nothing for huevos [Sp for "eggs"] = testicles
>
>
> Charles Emil Kany _American-Spanish Euphemisms_ Berkeley, Univ of Cal Press 1960 p. 145
> "Because of a resemblance of form, a common euphemism for testículos 'testes' (vulgar cojones) is huevos (huevas in Chile, Col and elsewhere) 'eggs.' "
>

Thanks. The Salter and the Kany do seem to be reporting (albeit in
English) Spanish usage, so they'd have to be quoted in brackets in OED.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED

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