what does "put in"mean in this specific context?
I looked it up in the dictionary, and got these explainations. I wonder, which one is correct in the following context? thank you!

context:
【"I declare," he said, "your Ma purely shocked me when she said 'twenty years'. I jest hadn't never set down and reckoned the time. The years has slipped by me, one by one, me not noticin' nor countin'. Ever' spring, I'd figger to git your Ma a well dug. Then I'd need a ox, or the cow'd bog down and perish, or one o' the young uns'd put in and die and I'd have no heart for well-diggin', and medicine to pay for. Bricks so turrible high—When I begun diggin' oncet, and got no water at thirty feet, I knowed I was in for it. But twenty years is too long to ask ary wo-man to do her washin' on a seepage hillside." 】put in
1. To make a formal offer of: put in a plea of guilty.
2. To introduce, as in conversation; interpose: He put in a good word for me.
3. To spend (time) at a location or job: I put in eight hours at the office.
4. To plant: We put in 20 rows of pine trees.
5. To make (a telephone call): I put in a call to the school principal.
6. To apply: put in for early retirement.
7. Nautical
a. To enter a port or harbor: The freighter puts in at noon.
b. To launch a small boat: The kayakers put in below the dam.2. I wonder , what does "I was in for it"mean?

Question

what does "put in"mean in this specific context?
I looked it up in the dictionary, and got these explainations. I wonder, which one is correct in the following context? thank you!

context:
【"I declare," he said, "your Ma purely shocked me when she said 'twenty years'. I jest hadn't never set down and reckoned the time. The years has slipped by me, one by one, me not noticin' nor countin'. Ever' spring, I'd figger to git your Ma a well dug. Then I'd need a ox, or the cow'd bog down and perish, or one o' the young uns'd put in and die and I'd have no heart for well-diggin', and medicine to pay for. Bricks so turrible high—When I begun diggin' oncet, and got no water at thirty feet, I knowed I was in for it. But twenty years is too long to ask ary wo-man to do her washin' on a seepage hillside." 】put in
1. To make a formal offer of: put in a plea of guilty.
2. To introduce, as in conversation; interpose: He put in a good word for me.
3. To spend (time) at a location or job: I put in eight hours at the office.
4. To plant: We put in 20 rows of pine trees.
5. To make (a telephone call): I put in a call to the school principal.
6. To apply: put in for early retirement.
7. Nautical
a. To enter a port or harbor: The freighter puts in at noon.
b. To launch a small boat: The kayakers put in below the dam.2. I wonder , what does "I was in for it"mean?

Answer

Hi, this looks to me like a historical piece of writing dating back to African-American culture, and the language that developed, which was also known as pidgin English or Creole English. Difficult to translate into modern English - so to answer your question - put in and die - I think the 'put in' has no additional significance or added meaning to the verb 'to die'. It is superfluous in modern English, but there is a similar phrase used today - not grammatically correct - but used colloquially - "he went and died on me" meaning "he died probably with no warning". "I was in for it" her means "I was in for a hard time, or I was in for a punishment"

Answer

It's hard to find dictionary definitions for such a colloquial text, isn't it?

I agree with Richard's explanation: it's something like "went and died". The first equivalent that sprang to my mind was "give up", as in "give up on life" or "give up the ghost". Perhaps there's some analogy behind "put in".

The first five definitions you have certainly don't apply, as an object follows the phrasal verb. Pay attention to details like that, and phrasal verbs become a lot easier.

We would need to read the book to understand the background - colloquial language relies heavily on context - but my best guesses at "I was in for it" are "I was in for some trouble", or at a stretch, "I was fully committed".

Could you tell us if any of our suggestions fit your understanding?

Answer

There is a lot of slang in that excerpt. You should put that in a notebook entry, and I will go over it and translate it into everyday English. I have met people that talk similar to that, in real life, but it is incorrect English and it is disgusting to hear. Especially those double negatives.

Some of that slang isn't used anymore, as well, so you can tell it's a very old book. Like "I declare" was used as an exclamation way back, but it hasn't been used in decades.