isht

n. a euphemistic misspelling of shit, with the same uses and meanings. Also ish. Subjects: English, Hip-Hop

Editorial Note: This term is also a part of spoken language and in both written and oral cases a form of taboo-avoidance. An unreliable source reports this term originated in the obscuring of obscenities in hip-hop recordings by rearranging their syllables. In American communities with Scandinavian heritage (mainly in Minnesota and Wisconsin), the unrelated interjection ish, indicating disgust or dislike, can be found. According to DARE, it derives from the Norwegian isj and the Danish and Swedish isch.

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Citations: 1994 Usenet: alt.rap (Oct. 30) “Re: DP Blowout Comb Question”: It didn’t seem like he did much on the last album, but he could still cut that isht up in concert. 1995 [Robin L. Gibson] Usenet: alt.rap (Feb. 22) “Re: Scared the #@%$ outta me!”: On Public Enemy’s Muse Sick In Hour Mess Age (the CD), if you reverse past the first track (about 1:25), there is Chuck D on the mike talking isht. 1995 [Brian Kirk Chambers] Usenet: alt.rap (Mar. 21) “Biz, the Roots, O.C., and Group Home”: While waiting for PR & CL they shot the isht around freestyle like behind the curtain. 1999 [Anthony Brigano] Usenet: rec.sport.pro-wrestling.fantasy (July 25) “Re: RSPWF reaks of Shit”: You’re full of ish, you ish head. Incidentally, I have a strange question: are you aware that “ish” is the term used instead of “shit” in many rap songs so they can be played on the radio, etc? 2000 [optyk] Usenet: alt.religion.christian.adventist (Mar. 16) “Re: how do you join the church”: I don’t give a “ish” what you think of the SDA church. God saved my old mans life. 2005 Des Life in text Format (Detroit, Mich.) (Mar. 7) “Things I Hate About Work”: Got they’re hair and nails did while the kids lookin’ bombed out—running through the store tearing ish up & acting a fool.…A lot of these chicks see me as a potential implant in a ready made family. They kids lookin’ at me “n ish like “Are you gonna be our new daddy?”…If I take her to dinner, she wanna take a doggybag home to them and all that other ish. 2005 [babigirllena (Salena)] Tha Lyfe Of That One Babi Girl (Mass.) (Mar. 9) “Driving”: Now imagine me on tha road. holy isht. havin mad cars around me waitin for me to do this, to do that.

Posted 11 Mar 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

I’m a middle school teacher, and all the kids are using “ish” these days.

by Kelly 09 Jul 06, 0520 GMT