excrement

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body

   The word excrement appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.

2. 2
   noun

   Human and non-human animal solid waste excreted from the bowels; feces.

   The Roman poet Horace states that the excrement of the crocodile has aphrodisiac virtues.

3. 3
   noun

   Any waste matter excreted from the human or non-human animal body, or discharged by bodily organs.

   A French Gentleman was ever wont to blow his nose in his hand […]. He asked me on a time, what privilege this filthie excrement had, that wee should have a daintie linnen cloth or handkercher to receive the same.

Borrowed from Latin excrēmentum, from excrēscō (“to grow out”).

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