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Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the surname of former US Senator Rick Santorum (born 1958). After Santorum made statements equating homosexuality with bestiality and opining that mutually consenting adults do not have a constitutional right to privacy with respect to sexual acts, US columnist Dan Savage gathered input from his readers and held a contest for definitions to "memorialize the scandal". Savage set up a website which defined the term, and helped to promote it. See Campaign for "santorum" neologism for further information.

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  • n. (1) The frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex. (2) former US Senator Rick Santorum.

    defn. according to www.spreadingsantorum.com

    July 17, 2008

  • Potaato, potawto.

    July 17, 2008

  • It's the word "frothy" that gives this term its ew-factor, I think.

    July 17, 2008

  • Froth and nonsense, methinks. I can't even be bothered to list it under Yuck!

    July 17, 2008

  • You must not know Rick Santorum, then. He's always irritated the bejesus out of me, the bigoted marmot.

    July 17, 2008

  • c_b, I think you're being a bit unfair to marmots there.

    July 17, 2008

  • I'm not really familiar with the man, but would you say, cb, that he's an insufferable assmarmot?

    July 17, 2008

  • Coined in 2003 by Dan Savage in "honor" of the former Senator.

    July 17, 2008

  • Another name for santorum could be assmarmite.

    July 18, 2008

  • I agree with Shevek. Why denigrate marmots?

    July 22, 2008

  • You're right. You're all very very right. I hereby apologize unreservedly to all marmots and their loved ones, and pray they will forgive me for my inexcusable thoughtlessness.

    I think yarb has it right. Insufferable assmarmot is excellent.

    Ha! Mercy, thanks for posting that link! I had no idea the extensive debate that preceded the coinage. I like this paragraph best:

    To simplify my life as a med student in taking sexual histories of patients, "santorum" could stand for discharge. Instead of having to ask people, "Any burning sensation during urination? Any penile/vaginal discharge or foul smell?" It would simply be, "Any burning sensation during urination? Any santorum?" That's much tidier. Plus, "santorum" sounds vaguely medical.

    Leave My Name Out

    Sionnach: I'm not sure what the HTML tag is for me to type the sound "Eeeeew!!!" accompanied by a big guffawing laugh!

    July 22, 2008

  • Oh yes; quite a bit of debate, c_b. I watched gleefully from the sidelines here in PA. :-)

    July 22, 2008

  • Great. Now I'm addicted to Dan Savage's column archives. Thanks Mercy.

    July 22, 2008

  • ass gravy is a synonym the internet has given us.

    May 21, 2009

  • It's come to the point where I can't see the word frothy without thinking of santorum.

    May 21, 2009

  • For better or worse, this definition has definitely taken hold. See:

    http://www.avclub.com/articles/savage-love-extra-rick-santorum,1784/

    June 27, 2009

  • Santorum is the mixture of feces and lube created during anal sex.

    July 15, 2009

  • Thanks to the layout for entries without definitions, Wordnik shows the true meaning of santorum on the main word page, unlike Wiktionary (where the page is protected).

    February 24, 2011

  • He's back, you know. He's been muttering about running for President.

    May God have mercy on our souls.

    March 1, 2011