muck
UK: mʌk | US: mʌk
n. 1. Wet, sticky dirt or filth.
n. 2. Animal dung, especially as used for fertilizer.
vt. 1. To spread muck (e.g., manure) on land.
vt. 2. To make dirty or messy.
The word "muck" traces back to Old Norse myki, directly meaning "dung" or "manure." It entered Middle English as muk, retaining its association with filth or organic waste. Over time, it broadened to include any wet, sticky dirt, reflecting its Scandinavian roots in agricultural contexts. The word's simplicity and phonetic resemblance to its Norse ancestor highlight its unchanged core meaning.
The farmer spread muck across the field to enrich the soil.
Her boots were covered in muck after walking through the muddy path.
The stables needed cleaning to remove the accumulated muck.
He mucked out the pigpen early in the morning.
Don’t muck up the kitchen with your dirty shoes!