Jon Anderson, replying to Ellen Blackstone, wrote:

> I'm afraid to even *begin* to learn the etymology of the word "shitepoke".

Oh, but let us not fear the truth, painful as it may be! A "poke" is a
bag. A heron looks like a big bag, and if you observe it carefully you
could believe it is full of . . . well, here comes the painful part: Our
ancestors did not generally say "poop" or "doo-doo" or even "feces."
They said "shit" (pardon me!), which sometimes got changed to "shite"
(don't ask me how or why). Webster's Unabridged says, "from its habit of
defecating when flushed." Or even when not flushed.

The truth shall make you free, even if it doesn't give you polite
chitchat for the dinner table.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794