School would have been much more interesting if my teachers had taught “stuff” like this!

Subject: Manure

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 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 had always thought it was a golf term!