art & literature

[neil hughes]

name of dorothy parker's parakeet

[gem_mother]

Onan - named after Judah's son in the bible.

[RevShirls]

Just a wee bit of information to add to gem_mother's answer, Onan was the second son of Judah. His name is the origin for the sexual term onanism (masturbation).  The story of Onan is in Genesis Chapter 38. Onan's brother Er's son died and so Judah sent Onan to sleep with Tamar, his sister-in-law (it was his duty to ensure the family line continued). Onan knew  that any child born to tamar wouldn't be his so he let his sperm fall on the ground. The King James' Version says that he "spilled his seed".

Yes, you've guessed it - that is why Dorothy Parker's parakeet was called Onan - because he kept spilling his seed!