Using the wrong dictionary

 The Chinese guys at the factory in Guangzhou labeled this sofa 'nigger brown', but I doubt very much that they knew what they were writing. They probably got it  from some old dictionary. A few years ago a student came into my class with the expression "Nigger in the woodpile" written on his jacket. I told him that it as seriously offensive, but I don't think we could accuse him of a racial slur. (I doubt that he had actually read it  - he just saw a bunch of letters on it. I never saw him wear it again.

I can see how this woman was upset. What do you think ?