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Shit

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shit¹

  • /ʃɪt/

Rhymes with -ɪt

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *skitiz

Proto-West Germanic *skiti

Proto-West Germanic *-jā

Proto-West Germanic *skittjā

Old English sċitte

Old English *sċite

Middle English schite

English shit

From Middle English schit, schyt, from Old English *sċite (“dung”) and sċitte (“diarrhoea”), from Proto-West Germanic *skiti and *skittjā, from Proto-Germanic *skitiz, from Proto-Indo-European *skeyd- (“to split, divide, separate”).

Related to Saterland Frisian Skiete, West Frisian skyte, skyt, Dutch schijt, German Low German Schiet, German Scheiße, Danish skidt, Swedish and Norwegian Nynorsk skit, Norwegian Bokmål skitt, Icelandic skítur. Compare shite. Doublet of scheisse.

noun shits · s--t · s**t · s—t · shite · sheeyit

  1. colloquial, countable, literally, uncountable, usually, vulgar Usually solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels; feces. The field is covered in shit.
  2. colloquial, countable, informal, literally, usually, vulgar The act of shitting. I need to take a shit.
  3. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar Rubbish; worthless matter. Throw that shit out!
  4. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar Stuff, things. I want your shit out of my garage by tomorrow.
  5. US, colloquial, definite, slang, uncountable, usually (the shit) The best of its kind. These grapes are the shit!
  6. slang, uncountable, usually, vulgar Genitalia, especially male. jerk one's shit
  7. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar Nonsense; bullshit. Everything he says is a load of shit.
  8. colloquial, countable, usually, vulgar A nasty, despicable person, used particularly of men. Her son has been a real shit to her.
  9. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar Anything. We don’t have shit to live on.
  10. colloquial, countable, usually, vulgar The smallest amount of concern or consideration. I don't give a shit.
  11. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar A problem or difficult situation. I'm in some serious shit.
  12. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar A strong rebuke. I gave him shit for being three hours late twice in one week.
  13. colloquial, uncountable, usually, vulgar Any recreational drug (e.g. cannabis, heroin, etc.). ‘Now,’ he said, ‘if someone would close the curtains and light a joss-stick, I have here for your delight some twenty-four-carat black Nepalese cannabis resin which should be smoked immediately on account of it being seriously good shit.’
  14. slang, uncountable, usually, vulgar Anything exceptional or remarkable. I heard Bobby escaped from the police by jumping off a bridge into the river. Ain't that some shit?

adjective shitter · more shit · shittest · most shit · s--t · s**t

  1. colloquial, vulgar Of poor quality; worthless. What a shit film that was!
  2. colloquial, vulgar Nasty; despicable. That was a shit thing to do to him.

shit²

  • /ʃɪt/

Rhymes with -ɪt

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sek-?

Proto-Indo-European *-éyti

Proto-Indo-European *skey-

Proto-Indo-European *skeyd-

Proto-Indo-European *skéydt

Proto-Germanic *skītaną

Proto-West Germanic *skītan

Old English sċītan

Middle English schiten

English shit

From Middle English schiten, shiten, from Old English sċītan, from Proto-West Germanic *skītan, from Proto-Germanic *skītaną, from Proto-Indo-European *skéydt, from *skeyd-, *skeh₁i-d (“to cut”) (compare *skey-).

Cognate with West Frisian skite, Low German schieten, Dutch schijten, German scheißen, Danish skide. More at shed.

verb shits · shitting · shat · shitted · shit

  1. colloquial, intransitive, literally, vulgar To defecate. For quotations using this term, see Citations:shit.
  2. colloquial, literally, transitive, vulgar To excrete (something) through the anus.
  3. colloquial, literally, reflexive, transitive, vulgar To defecate on; to soil through defecating. I laughed so hard I shat myself.
  4. ambitransitive, colloquial, slang, vulgar To fart (especially a wet fart) or shart. Of course, the farter does not dislike the smell of his own doing, but anybody else's fart, "Katey, bar the doors" and shouting, "Who shit?"
  5. colloquial, transitive, vulgar To fool or try to fool someone; to be deceitful. Twelve hundred dollars!? Are you shitting me!?
  6. Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, colloquial, transitive To annoy. I saw red and smashed a plate and a bowl. […] I swept up the mess. I bawled a lot as I swept […] I also thought, I am about to get my period. It absolutely shits me that this should explain anything.

interjection

  1. colloquial, mildly, slang, vulgar Expression of worry, failure, shock, etc., often at something seen for the first time or remembered immediately before using this term. Shit! I think that I forgot to pack my sleeping bag last night!
  2. colloquial, vulgar Used to show displeasure or surprise. "Oh, shit. I left my worksheet at home," she said to the language arts teacher, which got her in trouble.
  3. colloquial, vulgar Used for mere emphasis; heck, hey. All my comrades were laughing and clowning me, but shit, that didn't stop me from talking more shit.

Shit³

Where it comes from

From Persian شيت (šīt).

proper noun

  1. A village in Mazandaran Province, Iran.
  2. A village in Zanjan Province, Iran.

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