以上諸多單詞或詞組均是法律語言中指違反自然的性行為的術(shù)語。首先是crime against nature，其含義最廣，指所有刑法中規(guī)定禁止的有悖自然的性行為，包括肛交、口交、獸奸等[1]; 在普通法中，該術(shù)語包括：bestiality和sodomy兩種含義。其中， bestiality主要指兩性中任何一方與動物發(fā)生性交[2] ; sodomy則多指男人之間或兩性之間的肛交，此時它可與buggery替換使 用；在美國它還可指口交，獸奸m。buggery多指從肛門進行性 交，即雞奸，也可指用肛門或陰道與動物發(fā)生性交[4]。pederasty 則指一成年男人與一男童進行肛交，此種行為在美國各州均被視為非法[5]。
    
[1] "Deviate sexual intercourse per os or per anum between human beings who are not husband and wife and any form of sexual intercourse with an animal; crime of buggery or sodomy. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff，Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 258, West Publishing Co. (1991).
[2]“Sexual contact between a human being and an animal. ”Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Websters Dictionary of the Law, at p. 52, Random House, New York (2000).
[3]“The crime of oral or anal sexual contact or penetration between persons or of sexual intercourse between a person and an animal; esp. the crime of forcing another person to perform oral or anal sex. ” Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at pp. 459 ~460, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated Springfield, Massachusetts (1996).
[4]“A carnal copulation against nature； a man or a woman with a brute beast, a man with a man, or man unnaturally with a woman. This term is often used interchangeably with sodomy. ” Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 134, West Publishing Co. (1991).
[5]“Anal intercourse between a man and a boy. Pederasty is illegal in all states. ”Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1152，West Group (1999).