night soil

noun

: human feces used especially for fertilizing the soil

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The night soil temperatures are not ideal to put them out yet. oregonlive, 1 May 2021 For millennia, people collected these precious substances—often in the wee hours, giving rise to the term night soil—and used them to grow food. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'night soil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of night soil was in 1721

Dictionary Entries Near night soil

night singer

night soil

night song

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Cite this Entry

“Night soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20soil. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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