Thoughtful reader David wrote in with this interesting tidbit of trivia. I have to confess, I've never heard this before.....Manure: 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 of 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.
Neither did I.
I had always thought it was a golfing term.
"Golfing term".....that David, he's a regular comedian.
Disclaimer: I apologize for any hurt feelings, offended sensibilities, or blah, blah, blah......it's history, deal with it.
7 comments:
Well it is a popular golf phrase that follows just about every errant shot produced by a golfer.
I threw a club once just like Ted Knight in Caddyshack. I think I used it then.
Just this past weekend I received a speeding tax by good old GA State Patrol, I know I said it as soon as I saw he had me.
By the way I was traveling 79 (on the way to 85) in a 55 zone. Oops. But I was in Podunk, GA on some backroad from Jekyll Island to Dublin, GA. I'm guessing this tax will be >$400. Happy Father's Day.
Thanks for publishing this Ed and giving me credit but my brother sent it too me and it was just too good to pass up forwarding it on to those who could appreciate it.
79 in a 55? Dude, that's 1 mph from wreckless! John Q. Law might have given you a Rodney King beating for that.
As far as credit goes, if you take the time to send something to me and I use it, you get credit for it.
I'm not much of a cusser, but I've said that one more than enough times - usually when my in-laws pull in the driveway.
I shared this tid-bit with 2 of my kids (10&13)- they are wondering why it became a "bad word" then. I'm not sure how I feel about them researching S.H.I.T.
I should mention I diacussed it with them because my 13 year old was telling me about something one of his friends (the preacher's kid) said.
Snopes says this isn't true - too bad - it was a neat story.
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