Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that wouldget slippery In the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing..As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you openedthe door, It would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold. (Getting quite an education, aren't you?) *In those old days, theycooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.
“Si siri tena sasa, tumeshawazoea, kwani wanaishi kwa amani ila yule mume mdogo anaishi kwenye nyumba aliyoachiwa na marehemu baba yake, lakini anashinda kwa mume mkubwa, ambapo inajulikana kijijini hapa kuwa ni nyumba kubwa. “Basi pale ni mambo yote, kula na kunywa, mama huyu amewapangia zamu wanaume hao kama afanyavyo mume mwenye wake wengi.