poop

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

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To make a short blast on a horn.
2. (obsolete, intransitive) To break wind.
3. (informal, somewhat childish, intransitive) To defecate.
   His horse pooped right in the middle of the parade.

noun

1. (informal, often childish) Fecal matter; feces.
   The dog poop is on the grass.
2. The sound of a steam engine's whistle, typically low-pitched.
   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

intj

1. (childish, euphemistic) Expressing annoyed disappointment.
   Poop. The copier's broken again.
   I don't need him for a friend. I can have fun by myself! ... Poop. Jul 29 1986, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic)

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

1. 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.
   If Exxon has already made a find, and someone knows about it, they'd be the most likely to be directing the show. We just need to discover who has ties to the D.O.F and is close enough to Exxon to have the inside poop. 2002, J. Sander, Runoff, page 236

Etymology 3

Uncertain, perhaps sound imitation.

verb

1. (transitive) To tire, exhaust.
   I'm pooped from working so hard.
2. (reflexive) (with out) To become tired and exhausted.
   He pooped out a few strides from the finish line.

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

1. (nautical) The stern of a ship.
   For quotations using this term, see Citations:poop.
2. (nautical) The poop deck.

verb

1. (transitive) To break seawater with the poop (stern) of a vessel, especially the poop deck.
2. (transitive) To embark or reach the deck of a ship over the stern.
   We were pooped within hailing of the quay and were nearly sunk.
   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. 1819, James Hardy Vaux, chapter 18, in Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux, volume 1, page 207
   Pooping is a hazard of another nature, and is also peculiar to the process of scudding. It merely means the ship's being overtaken by waters while running from them, when the crest of a sea, broken by the resistance, is thrown inboard over the taffrail or quarter. 1838, Robert Walsh, The Museum of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art: Volume 33, page 376

Etymology 5

Uncertain, perhaps a shortening of nincompoop.

noun

1. (informal) A stupid or ineffectual person.
   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. 1976, Kurt Vonnegut, chapter 48, in Slapstick, Delacorte Press, page 224