GROIN, that part of the belly next to the thigh.—In the Philosophical Transactions we have an account of a remarkable case, where a peg of wood was extracted from the groin of a young woman of 21, after it had remained 16 years in the stomach and intestines, having been accidentally swallowed when she was about five years of age.
Complete entry of Encyclopædia Britannica, 3rd ed. (1788–1797)
Perhaps, in the beginning of the 19th century, British gentlemen would buy an encyclopedia to make interesting dinner conversation. Poor girl.