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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!zehntel!zinfandel!berry
From: berry@zinfandel.UUCP (Berry Kercheval)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: About that house in the Netherlands (really etymology)
Message-ID: <479@zinfandel.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 2-Dec-85 12:36:24 EST
Article-I.D.: zinfande.479
Posted: Mon Dec  2 12:36:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Dec-85 05:15:37 EST
References: <521@klipper.UUCP> <76@nbs-amrf.UUCP> <226@argon.kcl-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: berry@zinfandel.UUCP (Berry Kercheval)
Organization: Zehntel Inc., Walnut Creek CA
Lines: 25

In article <226@argon.kcl-cs.UUCP> phil@argon.UUCP (Phil Thompson) writes:
>The origin of the word "crap" is Thomas Crapper. He invented the first flushing
>toilet. So "crap", if it means anything, means excrement.


From the OXFORD UNIVERSAL DICTIONARY (1964 ed. p. 417): (somewhat abbreviated)

CRAP: From Middle English.  1.  The husk of grain - 1483.  2. A name of 
Buckwheat [ etc... ] 3. Residues, as of fat.  4. Dregs of ale 1879.  5. Money
(slang or dialect) 1700.  6. A Scrap 1550.

Crap: 1721. from dutch [!] 'krap'.  Madder -1812.

Crap: Thieve's cant.  from dutch 'krap' cramp.  The Gallows.  Hence the 
crap (v.t.) to hang.


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Now can anyone see how a slang term for excrement may be derived without 
needing the possibly apocryphal Mr. Crapper?


-- 
Berry Kercheval		Zehntel Inc.	(ihnp4!zehntel!zinfandel!berry)
(415)932-6900				(kerch@lll-tis.ARPA)