co_lum_bus (ex_co_lum_bu730) wrote in linguaphiles,
co_lum_bus
ex_co_lum_bu730
linguaphiles

balls and eggs

In most languages the slang word for testicles is "eggs". This is true for Russian and all other Slavic languages I know, German and, I believe, Hebrew. This makes sense, because testicles have oval shape, not round. So why in English they are called balls?
I wonder if this may have any connection to the fact that only in England there was a ball game (rugby) using an egg-shaped ball, not a round ball like in soccer.
Subscribe
  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    switch
    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    Help
  • 63 comments