this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] janNatan@lemmy.ml 161 points 1 week ago (3 children)

It's short for spermaceti whale.

Spermaceti is the name of the oil they produce for buoyancy/echolocation. Why is it called that? Because it was originally thought to be whale semen. Yes, really.

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 102 points 1 week ago (5 children)
[–] joelfromaus@aussie.zone 30 points 1 week ago

Would explain some of the decisions I’ve made over the years.

[–] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 1 week ago

Only during transit.

[–] galacticbackhoe@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

pee is stored in the balls so no room there

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 1 week ago

Only until you swallow

[–] pootzapie@lemy.lol 7 points 1 week ago

Actual lol, tysm and happy holidays

[–] SillyDude@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 week ago

I wonder if they were either disappointed or relieved when they found out it wasn't cum.

[–] skeezix@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

spermaceti was named after the italian pasta shape; a folded durham wheat shell with a tail.

Since it translates to "sperm head" I think it's the other way around