Middle English Dictionary Entry
shit n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shit n. Also shute & (early) shitta, scitta, (SWM) sit & (in names) shit(t)e, shithe, scite, shet(e. |
| Etymology | OE scitte; ?also cp. OE *scȳte; cp. ME shīten v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. skit(e n.
1.
(a) Diarrhea; ~ word, an obscene term of abuse; (b) in surname & place names.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(a1118) Florence Chron.1.148 : Hoc anno duæ retro sæculis Anglorum genti incognitæ pestes, scilicet, febris hominum et lues animalium, quæ Anglice Scitta vocatur, Latine autem fluxus intraneorum dici potest, totam Angliam plurimum vexaverunt.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)286 : Hom schende & mid fule worde, So herdes doþ oþer mid schit worde [Jes-O: sit worde].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.51 : Men had þe feveres and bestes þe schyt [Higd.(2): a dethe or infirmite of beste callede the schute; L lues animalium, quæ Anglice shitta, Latine fluxus interaneorum vocatur].
b
- (1202) Assize R.Lin.in Lin.RS 22646 : Randulfus Bla de Scitebroc.
- (1272-3) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.155 : Shitteborwelane.
- (1305) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.155 : Schiteburuelane.
- (1311) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.155 : Shitheburnlane.
- (1348) EPNSoc.13 (War.)271 : Schetewellwey.
- (1348) EPNSoc.13 (War.)271 : Schitewellemor.
- (c1400) EPNSoc.13 (War.)271 : Shitewelle.
- (1467) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.155 : Shirbouruelane alias Shetbouruelane.