Taboo

We're reading Lord of the Flies in class. I stop the class after we read this line:

"'Jack.' A taboo was forming round that word too."

Me: "Does anyone know what a taboo is?"

Jason Landry: "It's a no-no."

Me: "Yes! Something forbidden!"

Fred Pujols: "So like incest!" The class laughs.

Me: "Yeah, exactly--incest is a perfect example. Incest is taboo in our society because it is forbidden by our social customs."

Terry Drew pipes in. "Wait, I... I thought taboo was like... that wood... that wood that's like, hollow in the middle.."

Jason Landry: "No that's bamboo."

Laughter erupts. And I mean, rightly so. Point Terry.