The word Taint has been around for a long time – since the 1500s. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, taint originated from the Middle English “teynten”, meaning “to color.” It started out as a verb meaning “to contaminate morally” or “to touch or affect slightly with something bad.” So if you were a jealous person, you would be tainted by envy. Unlucky with your family being plagued by illness, you would be tainted by grief. Crops could be tainted by mold or blight.
In the 1600s, taint also became used as a noun to mean “a contaminating mark or influence.” If you had “the taint”, you were impure and immoral. Women who lost their virginity before marriage were considered tainted by sin and shunned or ridiculed. Women who had sex outside of marriage were tainted by adultery and forced to wear a scarlet “A”. Witches were often considered tainted by the Devil or evil, unclean spirits. At least until they were hung or drowned. Then they were tainted no more.
Food can be tainted when it is spoiled. If you leave potato salad out on the counter, it can become tainted with bacteria and make you ill. Decomposing matter can be tainted with germs. Wine can be tainted by bad smells or tastes which can’t be detected until the wine is bottled, aged, and opened. At that point, it’s usually undrinkable.
More recently, taint has become the slang term used to mean the area, either on a man or a woman, that lies between the anus and the balls or the vagina. I had never heard of this area referred to that way until my husband used the word. I wasn’t sure what he was referring to exactly when he said something about licking the taint.
“The what?” I asked.
“You know, the taint.”
“No, I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head.
“Well,” he said, ’T ain’t pussy, and ‘t ain’t ass…”
Oh, now I got it.
In a man’s case, of course, this would be “T ain’t the balls and ‘t ain’t the ass…”. Either way, it’s a strange term.
Why use a word with such a definition? I mean, it’s a great area. It’s super sensitive, both on women and men, and it’s great to gently stroke with a finger. It’s also feels wonderful when licked and caressed with a tongue. It’s possible to bring a man to climax by stroking this area while stimulating his penis or balls, and it can drive a woman wild. It’s that nether region where you can go when your partner doesn’t want anything near their anus. It can be teased and tickled, but never pinched. It can even be hit lightly with a hand or a small whip for a little extra bite.
I realize that it’s a “cute” contraction, but surely that area could have a better name. Maybe it should be called the ‘Tis. Because ‘tis great to stroke. ‘Tis between the balls or vagina and anus. ‘Tis nice to stimulate. ‘Tis nice to lick and savor. And ‘tis nice to have.
Let’s be more positive. No more taint, folks!
(This article was originally posted with non-exclusive rights on EdenCafe).
