28 March 2010

Is "pyroclastic" a dirty word?

According to Harper's, it is on "a 'blacklist' file included with the latest edition of Crossword Compiler, a British computer program for designing various word puzzles. The file prevents blacklisted words from appearing randomly."

I can understand their wishing to avoid bonk, fanny, rogering, stiffy, wee-wee, shtup and a few others, but many of the words appear to be unnecessary inclusions - especially "pyroclastic."  Perhaps it has a connotation that I'm unaware of. 

Via Wordnik.

1 comment:

  1. A dirty mind, such as mine, can easily find the naughty symbolism offered by the debris that shoots out from a volcano at eruption.

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