Note on The Symbol Interpretation of The Word Crap in Coprophilia

The recent reading in this JOURNAL of the article, “A Review of Coprophilia”, by Ben Karpman recalls certain speculations on the word “crap” as a copro-symbol, which may add a bit more evidence to the excellent collection of Doctor Karpman.

There was published in 1719 a book entitled General History of the Lives and Robberies of the Most Notorious Highwaymen, Footpads, Shoplifts and Cheats of Both Sexes by Captain Alexander Smith, which included a “Thieves’ New Canting Dictionary of the Words, Terms, Proverbs, and Phrases used in the Modern Language of the Thieves, etc., useful for all sorts of People (especially Travellers) to secure their Money and Preserve their Lives”. In this unique dictionary appears the word “crap” defined as follows:

This definitive interpretation of “money” is given in the early eighteenth century to a word which at the present time is known as a term denoting “feces”. Karpman presented a page of references demonstrating beyond a doubt the relation between feces and money. Here we have evidence of yet another link between the two, a common word denoting both.

Adding further to the entrenchment of the word “crap” in coprophilia is the notation of the use in this country since as early as 1775 of the word “crap” as a slang term for “crop”, a collection of produce from the ground, something that is “given off” by “Mother Earth”.

We find one other use of this word now currently popular as the title for a game employing dice. Heretofore, explanations for the name of this game seemed superficial and inadequate in getting at the root of the matter. Asbury, searching the dictionaries, attributes the origin of the game “Craps” to the English dice game of “Hazard” in which the throwing of two aces is called “Crabs”, later changed to “craps”. He has a page and a half of such material taken from various dictionaries. Scarne claims he has never found evidence to