manure

 
Pronunciation: /məˈnjʊə/

noun

[mass noun]
  • animal dung used for fertilizing land: plenty of fully rotted horse manure can be dug in this fall
  • any compost or artificial fertilizer: organic manure might be animal or vegetable derived [count noun]: artificial manures

verb

[with object]
  • apply manure to (land): the ground should be well dug and manured

Origin:

late Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'cultivate (land')): from Anglo-Norman French mainoverer, Old French manouvrer (see manoeuvre). The noun sense dates from the mid 16th century