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dirty pillow

(slang, generally plural) A breast, especially a woman's breast.

ˈdɝti ˈpɪloʊDocumented since 1970s1970sGen Xhistorical171 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1974 · no dated citations yet
1974BornToday, 2026
Boomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

(slang, generally plural) A breast, especially a woman's breast.

"I can see your dirtypillows. Everyone will. They'll be looking at your body. The Book says—" "Those are my breasts, Momma. Every woman has them."
Origin: Coined as "dirtypillows" by Stephen King in the novel Carrie (1974); see citation below. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"dirty pillow" means: A breast, especially a woman's breast.. The term has a sexual reference, so parents may want to know the context in which a child uses or hears it. In most cases it is part of normal teenage curiosity rather than a concrete worry. A short, non-judgemental conversation about consent, respect and online safety is usually the best response. Look at the wider pattern of behaviour, not the one word.

For ESL learners

"dirty pillow" means: A breast, especially a woman's breast.. Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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For specific readers

"dirty pillow" means: A breast, especially a woman's breast.. The term has a sexual reference, so parents may want to know the context in which a child uses or hears it. In most cases it is part of normal teenage curiosity rather than a concrete worry. A short, non-judgemental conversation about consent, respect and online safety is usually the best response. Look at the wider pattern of behaviour, not the one word.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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