This is what's called "folk etymology." Beware acronymic explanations of words that have been in the language for a long time (the OED records written uses of "shit" in the 1300's, and it was undoubtedly around before the Norman conquest) particularly when they're based on such obviously strained shaggy dog stories. Why on earth would anyone need to ship excrement across the ocean? Is there a place in the world where you'd need it and not have it?
bill at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In the days when sailing ships were opening up world trade routes, when > commodities such as spices were worth as much as gold, (18th Century??) > some ships would carry fertilizer. These ships would periodically > explode & be lost at sea, & no one knew why. Once they realised the > cause was due to a build up of methane gas in the hold (& probably some > sailor with a lantern) they would stamp on the words "Ship High In > Transit", so the ferilizer would be lashed to the decks & exposed to > the fresh air, avoiding any methane build-up. These words became common > in use, and were eventually abrreviated to S.H.I.T., hence the word we > use today.
