Ten years ago, the "Melissa Worm" infected computers, shutting down Microsoft Outlook and other e-mail systems around the world. Its creator, David L. Smith, named the virus after a stripper he'd met in Florida.

It wasn't the first time a woman's named got tagged to some sort of deviousness. Despite the fact that the a lot of etymology tends to point toward men -- due to that whole history-of-gender-discrimination thing -- there are still quite a few dangerous things named after women. And believe it or not, a few aren't even linked to misogyny.

Check out the gallery below to see a host of menacing stuff named after the fairer sex.


Dangerous Things Named After Women

    Guns The common name for firearms is derived from "Lady Gunilda" -- a large crossbow that defended Windsor Castle in the 14th century. The crossbow was given the female name "Gundahild," which translates to "war sword." And, honestly, is there anything sweeter than a gal called War Sword?

    AP

    Melissa Worm In early 1999, Melissa crashed Internet email systems around the world. New Jersey resident David L. Smith (pictured here) wrote the nasty virus, and named it after a lap dancer he met in Florida. Smith never revealed if the etymology had anything to do with the stripper having any viruses.

    AP

    USS Hopper Destroyer (DDG-70) Named for Grace Murray Hopper, a tech pioneer who helped the Navy go digital, the Hopper is a guided missile destroyer able to take out the enemy with a pay load of Tomahawks and a host of anti-aircraft guns. In other words, you don't want to make this lady angry.

    AP

    Bloody Mary Cocktail Queen Mary I just loved to persecute Protestants, earning her the precious nickname "Bloody Mary." Now the moniker is associated with the tomato and vodka beverage that can help cure hangovers. It can also get you way too wasted, way too early in the day.

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    Ackerman Tumor Known as a Verrucous carcinoma, this kind of cancer often shows up in those who chew tobacco, which also got it the name "Snuff dipper's cancer." Professor Lauren Ackerman, a cancer pathologist, is the Ackerman in question, though we've long lobbied for it to be changed to a "Dykstra Tumor."

    AP

    Enola Gay Enola Gay Tibbets' son Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay, named the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb after his mother. When he came home, we're guessing they had a long talk about that decision.

    AP

    Jezebel This term is used to describe a beautiful woman with loose morals. It's derived from a Phoenician princess, who convinced her husband, Israeli King Ahab, to build temples to a pagan god, and kill prophets. Of course, we've all met women like that, and learned the hard way to steer clear of their kind.

    Getty Images

    Baby Ruth Named for Ruth Cleveland, daughter of president Grover Cleveland, this candy bar is heavy in saturated fat, and the majority of its calories come from sugars. Eating them in large quantities can contribute to obesity, a problem ole' Grover struggled with mightily.

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    Big Bertha This sweet old lady is Bertha Krupp, granddaughter of German arms maker Alfred Krupp. The long range WWI-era German gun known as the "Big Bertha" was named after her. The howitzer repeatedly pummeled Paris during the war, perhaps making her not seem so sweet after all.

    AP

    Canavan disease This affliction is a degenerative disorder that causes progressive damage to the brain. In 1931, Dr. Myrtelle May Canavan published a description of Canavan Disease forever linking herself to literally losing your mind.

    Wikipedia