By Brian Boone

English is a rich and ever-evolving language with the right word for any object or situation. Some just “feel” dirty, because they’re a letter or two off from a naughty word, or they’re so old-fashioned and disused that they sound like more contemporary swear words or slang terms. Can you guess the true definitions of these words that are perfectly acceptable to use… but you probably shouldn’t because you don’t want to create confusion and anger? (Answers follow.)

Results

You’re a vocabulary mastermind! We were sure we’d stump you on this one. Want to further your knowledge of the outrageous? Check out Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader—your one-stop for all things trivia.

We can’t say we blame you…these words definitely aren’t used in everyday conversation.

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#1. Cockchafer.

A beetle species.

A beetle species.

A bird found in India.

A bird found in India.

A tool used in beer-making.

A tool used in beer-making.

An arcane word for bookshelf.

An arcane word for bookshelf.

Next

#2. Vagile.

Mysterious.

Mysterious.

Opaque.

Opaque.

Long-winded.

Long-winded.

Nomadic.

Nomadic.

Next

#3. Diphthong.

The scientific name for the smallest toe.

The scientific name for the smallest toe.

When a word has two consecutive vowel sounds.

When a word has two consecutive vowel sounds.

Revealing underwear for men.

Revealing underwear for men.

A leafy tree native to New Zealand.

A leafy tree native to New Zealand.

Next

#4. Aholehole.

A fish found in the South Pacific.

A fish found in the South Pacific.

A buffoon.

A buffoon.

A button-hole on a dinner jacket.

A button-hole on a dinner jacket.

A country doctor.

A country doctor.

Next

#5. Sextant.

A six-sided tent.

A six-sided tent.

A cage for small pets.

A cage for small pets.

A navigational tool.

A navigational tool.

Corn-based animal feed.

Corn-based animal feed.

Next

#6. Wankapin.

A type of skunk.

A type of skunk.

A natural way of waking oneself up in the morning.

A natural way of waking oneself up in the morning.

An extremely painful pinch.

An extremely painful pinch.

A variety of lotus flower.

A variety of lotus flower.

Next

#7. Slagger.

A beggar.

A beggar.

A person who works in a blast furnace.

A person who works in a blast furnace.

A traveling musician.

A traveling musician.

A disreputable cousin.

A disreputable cousin.

Next

#8. Peniaphobia.

A fear of prison.

A fear of prison.

A fear of quill pens.

A fear of quill pens.

A fear of poverty.

A fear of poverty.

An aversion to blinking lights.

An aversion to blinking lights.

Next

#9. Lobcock

A loud noise.

A loud noise.

A rooster that won't crow at dawn.

A rooster that won't crow at dawn.

A country bumpkin.

A country bumpkin.

A type of squash native to the American Southwest.

A type of squash native to the American Southwest.

Next

#10. Tittle.

The dot over a lower-case "i" or "j."

The dot over a lower-case "i" or "j."

A rumor.

A rumor.

A novice attorney.

A novice attorney.

A measure of whiskey.

A measure of whiskey.

Next

#11. Bobbyalla.

A police sergeant.

A police sergeant.

An Australian bird.

An Australian bird.

Another name for a handprint or footprint.

Another name for a handprint or footprint.

A duck hunter.

A duck hunter.

Next

#12. Tit-bore.

A large drill bit.

A large drill bit.

A hole in a tree made to drain excess sap.

A hole in a tree made to drain excess sap.

A method of medieval time-telling.

A method of medieval time-telling.

A peekaboo-type game.

A peekaboo-type game.

Next

#13. Shittah.

A chair with a very wide seat.

A chair with a very wide seat.

A type of tree found in North Africa.

A type of tree found in North Africa.

A fox-dog hybrid.

A fox-dog hybrid.

An ancient stringed instrument.

An ancient stringed instrument.

Next

#14. Gullgroper.

A pigeon catcher.

A pigeon catcher.

A type of fishing net.

A type of fishing net.

A swindler.

A swindler.

Another name for headmaster.

Another name for headmaster.

Finish