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Where does the word "muck" come from? It comes from Old Norse myki, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
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Where does the word "muck" come from? It comes from Old Norse myki, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
Muck’s story begins in Old Norse: myki meant “animal manure.” Cow dung, animal manure. It reached English by 1200s as muck. Settled as the English word for dirt, mud, or manure. Today, muck means dirt, mud, or any unpleasant, messy substance.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval myki "animal manure", cow dung, animal manure.
- Stage 2 · English · 1200s muck "dirt, mud, or filth", settled as the English word for dirt, mud, or manure.