manure

Definitions

From Old French manouvrer, 'to work (land) by hand' — the same source as maneuver (manus + operari). Originally 'to till by hand,' it narrowed to the fertilizer you work into the soil. A homely word that still hides the Latin 'hand.'

Why It Means This

Manure surprisingly shares an origin with maneuver: both come from Latin manus + operari, 'to work by hand.' Manure first meant 'to cultivate land by hand'; over time the verb's product — what you dig into the soil to enrich it — took over the noun, and today manure simply means dung used as fertilizer.

Common Collocations

• 1.animal manure动物粪肥
• 2.horse manure马粪肥
• 3.spread manure施肥

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The farmer spread manure over the field.

• 2.

  Well-rotted manure improves the soil.