Smegma
Meaning
Smegma is a thick discharge from the sebaceous gland in the mammalian genitalia.
The secretion, that is mainly composed of skin cells, oils and moisture can be found in men under the foreskin, while for women it collects around the clitoris and within the folds of the labia minora.
In non-professional contexts “smegma” may be referred to as dick cheese, knob cheese or cock cheese, though these phrases are highly profane.
Origin
The English word was adopted from Latin, which itself borrowed “smegma” from the Ancient Greek word, smêgma which derived from smáo, meaning “I clean”.
The term was first documented in English in 1819 and had been utilized since then, especially prevalent within medical contexts, as in everyday language, people refer to “smegma” with vulgar slang expressions.
Spread and Usage
“Smegma” had been a word of interest within the last two centuries, since there are many, who are oblivious to its meaning and are familiar only with the profane slang terms applied for the thick secretion of the sebaceous gland.
“Smegma” was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2001, with a lot of other definitions being uploaded to the site since that time.
External References
- Healthline – Everything You Should Know About Smegma