Dirt, v. t. To make foul of
filthy; to dirty. Swift.
Dirt (?), n. [OE. drit; kin to
Icel. drit excrement, drīta to dung, OD.
drijten to dung, AS. gedrītan.]
1. Any foul of filthy substance, as excrement,
mud, dust, etc.; whatever, adhering to anything, renders it foul or
unclean; earth; as, a wagonload of dirt.
Whose waters cast up mire and
dirt.
Is. lvii. 20.
2. Meanness; sordidness.
Honors . . . thrown away upon dirt and
infamy.
Melmoth.
3. In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc.,
before washing.
Dirt bed (Geom.), a layer of clayey
earth forming a stratum in a geological formation. Dirt beds are
common among the coal measures. -- Dirt
eating. (a) The use of certain kinds of
clay for food, existing among some tribes of Indians;
geophagism. Humboldt. (b) (Med.)
Same as Chthonophagia. -- Dirt pie,
clay or mud molded by children in imitation of pastry.
Otway (1684). -- To eat dirt, to submit
in a meanly humble manner to insults; to eat humble pie.