16 Feb Etymology of Bullshit

The etymology of the word bullshit seems as messy as bullshit. Unlike what’s indicated in etymology sources, most likely bullshit stems from hunting trips in the western United States in the 19th century. Hunters trailed their game by following the trail of their feces. The hunters examined feces to determine how recently the animals were present and the type of animal they were trailing. A warm pile of bison shit might have made them think they were on the right track until they realized it was shit from the bull of a nearby farm. It’s not what it appears to be, it’s bullshit. I suppose that hunters going around in circles would soon come upon their own horses’ feces, horseshit (meaning nonsense).

The forgoing is my view of the etymology of bullshit, to which some might say: bullshit.