Friday, March 10, 2006

In keeping with the Poopie mood

Here's something I got about the history of the word 'SHIT'. Here goes...

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 Transit) 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 always thought it was a golf term! :)

(The inspiration for this post comes from HERE.)

4 comments:

Queenmatrai said...

Ha ha its nice to see that Spaz is inspiring u to write...lol

u should read some of the archives, there are some interesting posts there...lol

noojes

ramblingmuse said...

Hey, your link "Here" didn't work.

This was interesting! Thanks for enlightening me in very important matters! ;-P

-RM

Ajeya said...

noojes :) i will definitely check out Spaz's archives! thx

RM, just checked the "HERE" link, seems to be working. I'll check with another browser tho. Hope you got my birthday wishes and more importantly, that you had a blast :) long time no post. looking forward to it.

Anonymous said...

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