A S**TLOAD of history

[underpants]

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common.
It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas.
As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.
After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.
Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T " , (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word.

[Bucky]

1. That is cute, but of course NOT the true history of the word shit

Inasmuch as the word shit seriously predate the 16th century, and is derived from the Germanic "scheiss", meaning "shit", what you got there is an urban legend. A cute one, but an old wives' tale nonetheless.

[underpants]

2. SHIT!

:grr:

[JVS]

3. What a load of Bullshit

I believe Chaucer uses the word shytten to mean befouled by muck and he came much before that era

[underpants]

5. Man that means an office email must have been wrong.

What are the odds?

[JVS]

6. I guess the company will have to close

[liberal N proud]

4. .

:rofl: