sheela-na-gig

12th century carving of a sheela-na-gig at the church of Saint Mary and Saint David in Kilpeck, Herefordshire, England

Meaning

Noun

A carving of a naked woman with an exaggerated vulva, found in old British and Irish architecture and supposed to ward off death and evil.

Origin

From Irish Síle cíoch. Attested in English from the 19th century.

Modern English dictionary

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