Dirty Three-Letter Words
When I play an online Scrabble game, the Tournament Word List (English TWL) is my dictionary of choice, but when I play Shameless Shirley online, I use the Merriam-Webster version (English MW or OSPD4). What's the difference? The TWL is slightly longer because it is uncensored.
"I can admit that I don't like the ethnic slurs," I told her, "but I can't justify taking them out of the game because they're still words."
"They simply take the focus away from the game," Shirley responded.
"What about the big swears like 'fuck' or 'shit'. Those are very common words that you hear everyday."
"I don't think any of them should be allowed." Part of me agrees with her. Frankly, I believe that more common swears are tamer than some of the other dirty words. Other times, my dictionary preference can simply make things harder. Consider one of my recent games.
Before my opponent played the word CLOUD and created an ethnic slur, I was looking for a way to use all my tiles by putting an S on the front of MUG. If I had been playing with the expurgated dictionary, my opponent's play would have been invalid and my spot would have been usable. Ironically, I later discovered that the tiles in my possession also formed, along with 43 other seven-letter words, an obscene anagram. See if you can find it.
R D I S * E A
Despite the censorship, sometimes dirty words still make it into the OSPD4 because they have other, legitimate meanings. For example, ASS, despite being a rude term for the buttocks, is still in the abridged dictionary because it refers to the animal. The word CUM is also deemed acceptable because it is a preposition meaning together with, not because it refers to ejaculate. In the case of PEE, things become more complicated. It is an acceptable word, but only as a noun meaning the letter P. Since the verb form denotes a slang term for urination, PEED and PEEING are only found in the TWL.
Another acceptable swear is FAG. This word has gone through a number of transformations over the years and still has a number of acceptable meanings. However, playing this word can still give you pause for thought.
This week's list contains all of the three-letter words that are banned from most casual play. Remember, these words can still be used in tournaments and games using the TWL dictionary so they are not altogether useless, but use them with care.
ABO, n., pl -S, an aborigine
This Australian term is an offensive slur for native aborigines.
GOY, n., pl. -S, a non-Jew
This Yiddish term is not altogether offensive since it can also refer to a nation, but it is also considered a mild slur. The alternative GENTILE is acceptable.
HOS, n.pl., whores; sexually loose women
While the word HO is an interjection of discovery (as in land ho!), the plural form is misogynistic.
JEW, v., -S, -ED, -ING, to bargain for an unfair price
This is the despicable word that began the whole Scrabble censorship debate. In the early 90's a woman named Judith Grad came across it in her dictionary and began a campaign to purge the game of foul language. She mustered up enough support to catch the attention of Merriam-Webster and the National Scrabble Association, forcing them to create a new word list that would be acceptable for school and recreational play.
LES, n., pl. -ES, a lesbian
LEZ, n., pl. -ES, a lesbian
These two words are mild slurs for female homosexuals.
POM, n., pl. -S, a person of British descent
This slur also comes from Australia and refers to people from the United Kingdom. It is believed that many of the British immigrants to Australia during the 1800's came off their boats reddened by the length of the journey. Since they were the color of pomegranates, the offensive term POM or POMMIE came into use.
POO, v., -S, -ED, -ING, to defecate
This childish term is my least favorite English word. Even though it is fairly tame, I am glad to see it purged from most games.
WOG, n., pl. -S, a dark-skinned person, usually of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern ancestry
This slur comes from the United Kingdom and once again refers to immigrants. It is a shortened form of GOLLIWOG (an acceptable word) which is a black-faced minstrel doll. L. Ron Hubbard also used this term to refer to non-Scientologists.
WOP, n., pl. -S, a person of Italian descent
The story that this word is an acronym for WithOut Papers is false. There is no evidence that Ellis Island ever marked immigrants in such a way. Instead, it most likely derives from the Spanish "guapo" which means an effeminate or pretty man.
YID, n., pl. - S, a person of Jewish descent
This is yet another anti-Semitic term. Enough said.
"I can admit that I don't like the ethnic slurs," I told her, "but I can't justify taking them out of the game because they're still words."
"They simply take the focus away from the game," Shirley responded.
"What about the big swears like 'fuck' or 'shit'. Those are very common words that you hear everyday."
"I don't think any of them should be allowed." Part of me agrees with her. Frankly, I believe that more common swears are tamer than some of the other dirty words. Other times, my dictionary preference can simply make things harder. Consider one of my recent games.
Before my opponent played the word CLOUD and created an ethnic slur, I was looking for a way to use all my tiles by putting an S on the front of MUG. If I had been playing with the expurgated dictionary, my opponent's play would have been invalid and my spot would have been usable. Ironically, I later discovered that the tiles in my possession also formed, along with 43 other seven-letter words, an obscene anagram. See if you can find it.
R D I S * E A
Despite the censorship, sometimes dirty words still make it into the OSPD4 because they have other, legitimate meanings. For example, ASS, despite being a rude term for the buttocks, is still in the abridged dictionary because it refers to the animal. The word CUM is also deemed acceptable because it is a preposition meaning together with, not because it refers to ejaculate. In the case of PEE, things become more complicated. It is an acceptable word, but only as a noun meaning the letter P. Since the verb form denotes a slang term for urination, PEED and PEEING are only found in the TWL.
Another acceptable swear is FAG. This word has gone through a number of transformations over the years and still has a number of acceptable meanings. However, playing this word can still give you pause for thought.
This week's list contains all of the three-letter words that are banned from most casual play. Remember, these words can still be used in tournaments and games using the TWL dictionary so they are not altogether useless, but use them with care.
ABO, n., pl -S, an aborigine
This Australian term is an offensive slur for native aborigines.
GOY, n., pl. -S, a non-Jew
This Yiddish term is not altogether offensive since it can also refer to a nation, but it is also considered a mild slur. The alternative GENTILE is acceptable.
HOS, n.pl., whores; sexually loose women
While the word HO is an interjection of discovery (as in land ho!), the plural form is misogynistic.
JEW, v., -S, -ED, -ING, to bargain for an unfair price
This is the despicable word that began the whole Scrabble censorship debate. In the early 90's a woman named Judith Grad came across it in her dictionary and began a campaign to purge the game of foul language. She mustered up enough support to catch the attention of Merriam-Webster and the National Scrabble Association, forcing them to create a new word list that would be acceptable for school and recreational play.
LES, n., pl. -ES, a lesbian
LEZ, n., pl. -ES, a lesbian
These two words are mild slurs for female homosexuals.
POM, n., pl. -S, a person of British descent
This slur also comes from Australia and refers to people from the United Kingdom. It is believed that many of the British immigrants to Australia during the 1800's came off their boats reddened by the length of the journey. Since they were the color of pomegranates, the offensive term POM or POMMIE came into use.
POO, v., -S, -ED, -ING, to defecate
This childish term is my least favorite English word. Even though it is fairly tame, I am glad to see it purged from most games.
WOG, n., pl. -S, a dark-skinned person, usually of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern ancestry
This slur comes from the United Kingdom and once again refers to immigrants. It is a shortened form of GOLLIWOG (an acceptable word) which is a black-faced minstrel doll. L. Ron Hubbard also used this term to refer to non-Scientologists.
WOP, n., pl. -S, a person of Italian descent
The story that this word is an acronym for WithOut Papers is false. There is no evidence that Ellis Island ever marked immigrants in such a way. Instead, it most likely derives from the Spanish "guapo" which means an effeminate or pretty man.
YID, n., pl. - S, a person of Jewish descent
This is yet another anti-Semitic term. Enough said.
-Jiff Z. Moneyer
sǝıʞɹɐp :ɹǝʍsu∀
posted by Jiff Z Moneyer at
6:31 AM
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