Page 1 of 1

Strange Origins of Words

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:45 am
by ajmrowland
Ok, I just heard this, so I'm spreading the knowledge while it's still fresh.

So, manueur used to be valuable for fertilizing crops, right? So, they would trade it by sending it overseas to other countries. The manueur would be put in containers in the bottom of the hold, where water could get up in them and wet the stuff, and it would dry and stink. So, the crew would send a guy down and he'd light a lantern and the ship would explode.

Thusly, the containers were labeled:

Ship High In Transit.

or

s.h.i.t.

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:41 pm
by littlefuzzy
Nice, if it were true...

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:17 pm
by SpringHeelJack

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:29 am
by milojthatch
Here is what Wikipedia has on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shit

It seems right to me. I'm an English major and have s studied words before. I just can't think of any other source off the top of my head and it's late. But by all means, check it out.

And I agree, how we gets words is interesting.

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:21 am
by disneyboy20022
not to get political here...but


Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

aka

COBRA

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:18 am
by ajmrowland
Okay, maybe it's not true. It's a nice story, though.

Let's try and stick to ones that are true.

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:59 am
by Wonderlicious
I heard that "butterflies" are called exactly what they are called because of medieval superstitions that these insects stole people's butter. :P