cunnilingus
UK[ˌkʌnɪˈlɪŋɡəs]US[ˌkʌnɪˈlɪŋɡəs]
n
The act of stimulating a woman's vulva or clitoris with the mouth and tongue.
Morpheme Breakdown
cunnus
lingus
cunnus
vulva
lingus
licking
Etymology
The word 'cunnilingus' is a modern Latin compound, formed directly from two classical Latin roots. The first element, 'cunnus', is a straightforward anatomical term for the female genitalia. The second element, 'lingus', originates from the verb 'lingere', meaning to lick. The compound was constructed in modern scientific and medical Latin to create a precise, technical term for the specific sexual act. It follows a clear descriptive logic, literally translating to "vulva-licking", which directly informs its contemporary clinical and vernacular usage.
Analysis
Structure: cunnus (vulva) + lingus (licking)
'cunnus' is a Latin noun meaning "vulva". 'lingus' is derived from the Latin verb 'lingere', meaning "to lick".
Examples
The book contained a clinical discussion of sexual practices such as cunnilingus.
Some cultures have ancient artistic depictions of acts resembling cunnilingus.
Informed consent is crucial for any intimate act, including cunnilingus.