Vocabulary PSA: loin and groin

In the past month or so, I have had two conversations wherein people did not understand the literal meanings of the following words, as applied to human anatomy:

loin

The meaty part of your lower back and sides, below your rib cage and above your pelvis.

groin

The crease where your torso meets your legs, running from the side of your pelvic bone (at your hip) to between your legs.

Due to the excessive use of these two words as euphemisms for genitalia, many people seem to be under the mistaken impression that both of these words refer literally to genitalia or the genital region. In the case of loin, it's pretty egregious, because your loins are nowhere near your genitalia. In the case of groin, it's simply annoying, as there's no other word that refers to that specific part of the anatomy.

This has been an Abstract Factory public service announcement.

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