From the Greek σκῶρ (skôr) and its related form σκᾰτός (skatós), both meaning "dung, excrement, feces," and the noun λόγος (lógos), meaning "statement or reckoning," scatology is the study of excrement. The adjective scatological literally refers to the interest in (often obscene) matters dealing with excrement, like "scatological humor," or in the parlance of parenting small children, "potty talk." It can refer more generally to any obscene content in literature.