Allen: Thanks for taking the time to clarify that. However, the word "pussy" is so often used in a derogatory way towards women that it didn't even cross my mind that you were going for a different image - as TomBeraha said, your wording certainly doesn't make it clear. As for the derogatory usage being more pervasive "on my playground", I seriously doubt that you are unaware of the sexist connotations of this word in the modern world. If I were to refer to someone as a "pussy", nobody would assume I was comparing him to a cat. Where the word came from is irrelevant - its modern usage is. The words "queer" and "*****" also have harmless origins, but I would hope that, as a jounalist, you would use those words with a little more caution.