letame

manure, dung

noun leh-TAH-meh Rare

Origin: Latin laetamen (fertilizer, enrichment)

Usage Note

Letame refers to animal manure used as fertilizer — it is the standard agricultural term. It is also used as a strong insult in colloquial speech. Do not confuse with fango (mud) or spazzatura (garbage). The Latin root laetamen meant 'that which enriches,' from laetus (fertile, joyful).

Examples

"Il contadino sparge il letame nei campi."

Natural Translation

The farmer spreads manure in the fields.

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