A sudden exclamation or cry, or the physiological process of discharge of fluid from the body. The word has both linguistic and biological meanings.
From Latin ejaculari meaning 'to throw out,' from e- (out) + jaculari (to throw). Originally used for sudden verbal outbursts in the 16th century, the biological sense developed later in medical contexts.
Before its predominant modern association, 'ejaculation' was commonly used in literature to mean sudden exclamations - you'll find it frequently in Victorian novels meaning 'he cried out!' The dual meanings show how medical terminology can overshadow original meanings.
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