Yiddish anyone? WB's WAG: German dial <Siel> 'sewer' + -isch > *Sielisch *'crappy' > Zilsch, Zilch, zilch. Cf. Thomas Crapper, crapper, crap, crappy, crap out 'lose (at craps), usw. ------------------------------------------------------------ The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org