dunghill

plural dunghills · alternative dung-hill · alternative obsolete dunghil · alternative obsolete dung-hil

1. A heap of dung, especially one for agricultural purposes.

   “A purty thing, indeed, that a child of her's shud be put an a shovel, an' flung out on the dunghill jist like a dead kitten or a pisoned rat; no, no, she wouldn't hear to that at all.”

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 522

   Synonyms: muckheap, dungheap

2. derogatoryfigurativelyAny wretchedly mean, dirty or loathsome place, situation or condition.

   He raiſeth vp the poore out of the duſt: and lifteth the needie out of the dung-hill:

   New International Version translation: He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 113:7–7, signature Ggg3, recto, column 1