General
fourth point of contact
What does fourth point of contact mean?
A euphemism for the backside, from parachute-landing-fall doctrine, which counts the body's points of contact with the ground on landing — the fourth being the rear.
"He landed hard on his fourth point of contact."
Origin
US Army airborne slang, from parachute-landing-fall instruction.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'fourth point of contact'?
It's a jokey euphemism for the buttocks, drawn from airborne parachute-landing-fall doctrine that counts the body's points of contact with the ground on landing.
Where does 'fourth point of contact' come from?
It's US Army airborne slang from parachute-landing-fall (PLF) instruction, where paratroopers learn to distribute a landing across successive points of contact — the rear being the fourth.
Is 'fourth point of contact' rude?
No — it's a mild, tongue-in-cheek way to refer to the backside, and it's often used humorously in and out of airborne units.
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