Origin of Phrases - P
Pooped
Englishmen headed toward the New World found that violent waves did the most damage when they crashed against the stern, or poop, or a vessel. Any ship that made it through a long bout with the high seas was said to be badly pooped, or lucky to still be afloat after the many days of pounding. Sailors who described the splintered stern of a ship to friends or family frequently confessed that they felt as pooped as their vessel looked.