Where does “dirt-poor” come from?

dirt-poor (English) comes from English dirt, from Middle English drit, from Old Norse drit, from Proto-Germanic dritą, from Proto-Germanic drītaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreyd- — to have diarrhea.

dirt-poor (English): In a condition of extreme poverty

Definitions

  1. In a condition of extreme poverty

Ancestry of “dirt-poor”, step by step

dirt-poor traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English dirt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdirtSoil or earth
2Middle Englishdritexcrement
3Old Norsedritexcrement
4Proto-Germanicdritąshit, excrement
5Proto-Germanicdrītanąto defecate; to urinate
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreyd-to have diarrhea

via English poor

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpoorWith no or few possessions or money, particularly...
2Middle Englishpovrepoor, needy; poor by choice; Afflicted by need...
3Old Frenchpovrepoor
4Latinpauperpoor
5Latinpavo-parsgetting little
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpau-smallness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreyd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic drītaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic dritą →