diff --git a/core/parser/parser.factor b/core/parser/parser.factor
index 1e66618053..08f4275e49 100755
--- a/core/parser/parser.factor
+++ b/core/parser/parser.factor
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ ERROR: bad-number ;
 
 : (M:) CREATE-METHOD parse-definition ;
 
-: parse-unit ( -- object )
+: scan-object ( -- object )
     scan-word dup parsing?
     [ V{ } clone swap execute first ] when ;
 
diff --git a/core/syntax/syntax.factor b/core/syntax/syntax.factor
index 778a9e7293..5da2d5e4e2 100755
--- a/core/syntax/syntax.factor
+++ b/core/syntax/syntax.factor
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ IN: bootstrap.syntax
     ] define-syntax
 
     "FORGET:" [
-        parse-unit forget
+        scan-object forget
     ] define-syntax
 
     "(" [
diff --git a/extra/help/syntax/syntax.factor b/extra/help/syntax/syntax.factor
index d41b72ee20..9450f87215 100755
--- a/extra/help/syntax/syntax.factor
+++ b/extra/help/syntax/syntax.factor
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ IN: help.syntax
     over add-article >link r> remember-definition ; parsing
 
 : ABOUT:
-    parse-unit in get vocab set-vocab-help ; parsing
+    scan-object in get vocab set-vocab-help ; parsing
diff --git a/extra/tuple-syntax/tuple-syntax.factor b/extra/tuple-syntax/tuple-syntax.factor
index fe05e5a374..2419b8febb 100755
--- a/extra/tuple-syntax/tuple-syntax.factor
+++ b/extra/tuple-syntax/tuple-syntax.factor
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ IN: tuple-syntax
 
 : parse-slots ( accum tuple -- accum tuple )
     dup parse-slot-writer
-    [ parse-unit pick rot set-slot parse-slots ] when* ;
+    [ scan-object pick rot set-slot parse-slots ] when* ;
 
 : TUPLE{
     scan-word construct-empty parse-slots parsed ; parsing