The medical term tragomaschalia means “smelly armpit sweat,” and derives from Greek words that mean “goat armpit.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Tragomaschalia”
I came across a medical term that looked vaguely familiar.
It’s tragomascalia.
Not even going to try on that one.
No, I wouldn’t.
The trago is familiar, but I don’t know why.
Well, it comes from the Greek word for goat.
Like the tragus is that little flap over your ear.
Okay.
With the little triangular piece in the front there?
Yes, yes.
It barely blocks the hole?
Yes.
That’s called the tragus because particularly in elderly men, it gets kind of hairy like a goat’s beard.
I wouldn’t know anything about that.
Right.
I mean, that’s kind of cool that that’s called the tragus and for that reason.
So what’s the rest of the word?
Well, I was looking at this and thinking this word has got to be from Greek words that mean goat armpit.
But what is that about?
And so I looked it up and it’s brumadrosis of the axilla.
Something with your ankle?
No, it’s basically odorous perspiration from the armpit.
Oh, that’s nice.
It comes from all these Greek words.
I don’t expect to hear that in an axe commercial anytime soon, but it would be cool if they did.
I don’t think that’s the same target market.
The overlay between 13-year-old boys who steam up their room with axe spray and the people who enjoy weird words.
That Venn diagram does not work.
Thank you.
