Careful Words

dirt (n.)

dirt (v.)

dirt (adj.)

Their feet through faithless leather met the dirt,

And oftener chang'd their principles than shirt.

Edward Young (1684-1765): To Mr. Pope. Epistle i. Line 277.

The loss of wealth is loss of dirt,

As sages in all times assert;

The happy man's without a shirt.

John Heywood (Circa 1565): Be Merry Friends.

  Martin, if dirt was trumps, what hands you would hold!

Charles Lamb (1775-1834): Lamb's Suppers.