flak monkey
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| posted on 9/5/06 at 05:10 AM |
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Origins of S**t
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.
Bet You did not know the true history of this word
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Peteff
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| posted on 9/5/06 at 09:27 AM |
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That sounds like manure to me....
Why would you want to transport S.H.I.T. anywhere when everyone produces their own? 
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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NigeEss
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| posted on 9/5/06 at 11:15 PM |
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Another fascinating fact to bore the guys in the boozer with
Keep 'em coming, I love trivia like that.
[Edited on 9/5/06 by NigeEss]
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cossey
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| posted on 10/5/06 at 07:42 AM |
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unfortunately its and urban legend, it really comes from saxon times iirc
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