Before commercial fertilizers were invented, raw manure was packed in bundles and transported by sea in large quantities, stored in the holds of wooden sailing ships.
To save weight, it was bundled dry but as it soaked up seawater from the bilges, it began to ferment producing highly combustible methane gas.
Because the manure was stored in a closed, confined space below decks, methane would quickly build up and on contact with the lighted flames of the ships' lanterns……boom! Eventually, after the loss of several costly cargo vessels, the scientific connection was made.
As a result, to warn the crew to stack bundles high in the hold to avoid contact with bilge water, the bundles were always stamped with the instruction ‘Store High In Transit’
Thus, thanks to exploding manure, the acronym for Store High In Transit has now found its way into the English language.
Oh well, it happens.
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