Manure : In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by sailing ship and it was also before the invention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quite common.
It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas of course. 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 instruction ' Stow 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 ', (Stow 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.................
Manure & the origin of the "S" word
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alan refail
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Could this be the origin of the term "Taking the piss"?
http://uninformedcomment.wordpress.com/ ... -the-piss/
The transport of London urine to Whitby was a major trade - and that's 100% true
http://uninformedcomment.wordpress.com/ ... -the-piss/
The transport of London urine to Whitby was a major trade - and that's 100% true
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sally wright
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Dear Alan,
indeed it was but it did not go to Whitby but to a place further down the coast called Ravenscar. For the million dollar prize do you know what they did with it?
Regards Sally Wright.
indeed it was but it did not go to Whitby but to a place further down the coast called Ravenscar. For the million dollar prize do you know what they did with it?
Regards Sally Wright.
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alan refail
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sally wright wrote:Dear Alan,
indeed it was but it did not go to Whitby but to a place further down the coast called Ravenscar. For the million dollar prize do you know what they did with it?
Regards Sally Wright.
It was landed at Whitby and transported down the coast to Ravenscar and up the coast to Sandsend and beyond. If I say what it was used for will you put the $1000000 in the post?
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