What exactly is a “poop deck,” and aren’t most ships equipped with a “head” for that purpose?

The so-called poop deck is the roof of the poop cabin, which is located on the stern and extends from the mizzenmast aft. The word is derived from the Latin puppis, which means “stern,” or the rear section of a ship. It apparently was first transmogrified into “poop” by William Caxton in 1489.

Enquiring minds may be wondering how the stern of a ship became synonymous with … well … you know. Turns out that that “poop” evolved from the Middle English word poupen, which meant “to make a gulping sound.” It may have had something to do with the “rear” connection as well. Try to erase that mental picture from your mind and go take our daily quiz.