poop
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /puːp/, /pʊp/
Audio (CA) (file) - Rhymes: -uːp
Etymology 1
Uncertain, possibly from Middle English poupen (“to make a gulping sound while drinking, blow on a horn, toot”). Compare Dutch poepen (“to defecate”), German Low German pupen (“to fart; break wind”). Also representing poo pronounced with the mouth snapped closed at the end.
Verb
poop (third-person singular simple present poops, present participle pooping, simple past and past participle pooped)
- (obsolete, intransitive) To make a short blast on a horn. [from late 14th c.]
- Synonym: toot
- (obsolete, intransitive) To break wind. [from 18th c.]
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:flatulate
- (informal, somewhat childish, intransitive) To defecate.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:defecate
- His horse pooped right in the middle of the parade.
Noun
poop (countable and uncountable, plural poops)
- (informal, often childish) Fecal matter; feces. [from the 18th c.]
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:feces
- The dog poop is on the grass.
- The sound of a steam engine's whistle, typically low-pitched.
- 2001, Rev. W. Awdry, Thomas the tank engine collection : a unique collection of stories from the railway series - p. 157 - Egmont Books, Limited, Aug 15, 2001
- Two minutes passed - five - seven - ten. "Poop! Poop!" Everyone knew that whistle, and a mighty cheer went up as the Queen's train glided into the station.
- 2001, Rev. W. Awdry, Thomas the tank engine collection : a unique collection of stories from the railway series - p. 157 - Egmont Books, Limited, Aug 15, 2001
Derived terms
Translations
Interjection
poop
- (childish, euphemistic) Expressing annoyed disappointment.
- Poop. The copier's broken again.
Etymology 2
Recorded in World War II (1941) Army slang poop sheet (“up-to-date information”), itself of uncertain origin, perhaps toilet paper (referring to etymology 1).
Noun
poop (uncountable)
- A set of data or general information, written or spoken, usually concerning machinery or a process.
- Here’s the info paper with the poop on that carburetor.
Etymology 3
Uncertain, perhaps sound imitation.
Verb
poop (third-person singular simple present poops, present participle pooping, simple past and past participle pooped)
- (transitive) To tire, exhaust. Often used with out. [from early 20th c.]
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:tire
- I'm pooped from working so hard.
- He pooped out a few strides from the finish line.
Translations
Etymology 4
From Middle English poupe, pope, from Old French pope, poupe, pouppe, from Italian poppa, from Vulgar Latin *puppa, from Latin puppis, all meaning “stern of a ship”.
Noun
poop (countable and uncountable, plural poops)
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
poop (third-person singular simple present poops, present participle pooping, simple past and past participle pooped)
- (transitive) To break seawater with the poop of a vessel, especially the poop deck.
- We were pooped within hailing of the quay and were nearly sunk.
- 1819, Vaux, James Hardy, chapter 18, in Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux, volume 1, page 207:
- Another night, as we were scudding before a heavy gale of wind, and a tremendous sea rolling after us, we had the misfortune to be pooped, as the phrase is, by a wave or sea striking our stern, which stove in the cabin-windows, and rushing impetuously through the cabin, and along the main-deck, bore down all before it.
- (transitive) To embark a ship over the stern.
Etymology 5
Uncertain, perhaps a shortening of nincompoop.
Noun
poop (plural poops)
- (informal) A stupid or ineffectual person.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:idler
- 1976, Vonnegut, Kurt, chapter 48, in Slapstick, Delacorte Press, page 224:
- Aside from battles, the history of nations seemed to consist of nothing but powerless old poops like myself, heavily medicated and vaguely beloved in the long ago, coming to kiss the boots of young psychopaths.