dirt

Where does the word "dirt" come from? It comes from Old Norse drit, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Dirt’s story begins in Old Norse: drit meant “excrement, filth.” The original sense 'excrement' shifted to general filth. It reached English by 1300s as dirt. Broadened from filth specifically to loose soil or any unclean matter. Today, dirt means loose soil or earth, or any substance that makes something unclean.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval drit "excrement, filth", the original sense 'excrement' shifted to general filth.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s dirt "loose soil, or any unclean matter", broadened from filth specifically to loose soil or any unclean matter.