What’s an oxter? It’s another term for the underarm, primarily used in Northern England, Scotland, and Ireland. A bit nicer than armpit, isn’t it? Oxter can also serve as a verb, as in, “We oxtered him out of the club.” Need another synonym for that body part, one that also happens to rhyme with gorilla? Try axilla. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Oxter Can Mean Underarm in Northern England, Scotland, and Ireland”
Mini quiz, Martha.
Mini quiz.
Mini quiz.
All right, bring it.
Do you know what oxter means?
O-X-T-E-R?
Yes, I do.
Very good.
It’s right under my shoulder, right?
My oxters.
Yeah, it’s your underarm area, right?
Right, right.
Doesn’t it sound a little nicer?
Oxter.
It makes me feel like I have a degree from my British.
Yeah, it’s very much a British word.
Not much used in the United States, probably in the north of the United Kingdom overall.
But there’s also a verb, oxter.
This is when people take you by the armpits and kind of drag you to wherever you need to go.
I did not know the verb.
We oxtered him out of the club or the pub.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
Have you been oxtered today?
O-X-T-E-R.
Nice.
Oxter is either the armpit or the verb is to carry somebody by their armpits.
That’s interesting.
The only other word I know for that is axilla.
Ooh, nice.
For the armpit.
Or email words@waywordradio.org.
