History of the word S.H.I.T. true story

[doc ice]

Manure...A True Story


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 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.

[spyman]

Funny story - i'll be using myself if you don't mind... but it is an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/****.asp

Apparently the bad word filter won't allow this URL to be posted. Replace the **** with the letters that appear on the side of the cargo. LOL