(Nick Maclaren) wrote in message ...
[...]
One of the interesting things is that his [T. Crapper's] name is NOT the origin
of the word 'crap', meaning defecate. The first record of that
is in 1846, when Thomas Crapper was ten. See:

http://www.plumbingworld.com/historythomas.html

Partridge reckons it's even earlier: he says mid-18C, but annoyingly
doesn't quote a source. My old OED doesn't give the meaning at all.
There's probably a discussion in the FAQ for alt.usage.english.

Mike.