Why is a toilet called a privy?

The oldest word on the list, privy dates back hundreds of years and derives from the phrase private place. Despite some persistent myths, the privy council does not take its name from when King Henry VIII would hold meetings in his toilet.

Why were toilets called the privy?

Privy is a very old word for what we'd call the bathroom, with it earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) from 1225. The word privy comes from the Old French privé, “intimate friendly; a private place.” No matter how friendly, privies were often outside, and so chamber pots were used instead.

What is a privy toilet?

So what is a privy? You may know it by a different name: head, john, latrine, lavatory, outhouse, potty, restroom, the can, throne, washroom, water closet... Simply, a privy is an outdoor toilet.

Why do they call it an outhouse?

The term "outhouse" is used in North American English for the structure over a toilet, usually a pit latrine ("long drop"). However, in British English "outhouse" means any outbuilding, such as a shed or barn.

What is Cockney rhyming slang for toilet?

Khazi is Cockney slang for Toilet.

The History of Toilets

Why do Cockneys call a watch a kettle?

The term means watch, which stemmed from a 'fob' watch which was a pocket watch attached to the body with a small chain. The kettle used to boil on the hob of a stove… hence the rhyme.

Why are glasses called bins?

On the subject of 'bins' this expression is the cockney rhyming slang for glasses, as in reading glasses, so if someone is having trouble looking up a number in a telephone book you might say put on your 'bins'.

Why is there a moon on outhouse doors?

As the story goes, in the 1800s and earlier, literacy wasn't widespread, so the common symbol used to differentiate between a men's privy and a women's was that the men's door carried a sun or star symbol, while the women's stalls were marked with a moon.

Why do outhouses have 2 holes?

To avoid the odor reaching the home, most outhouses were built between 50 and 150 feet from the main house, often facing away from the house. They had either one or two chamber holes inside — one for the adults and a smaller one for the children.

Why do outhouses have a crescent moon?

Supposedly before the adoption of the more familiar male and female bathroom symbols, it was common to use a crescent moon to denote that an outhouse was for women and a sun to denote that it was an outhouse for men.

What breaks down poop in an outhouse?

A type of lime called calcium hydroxide, available at feed stores, can be dropped down the hole to reduce odor. But lime might halt decomposition. Ash from a wood-burning stove is better for decomposition, but less effective on odors.

Where does the word privy originate?

privy (adj.) early 13c., "secret, concealed, not made known in public;" c. 1300, of places, "secluded," from Old French privé "friendly, intimate; a private place," from Latin privatus "private, personal" (see private (adj.)).

How did they clean outhouses in the 1800s?

Most outhouses were cleaned periodically. On certain wash days, leftover soapy water was carried to the outhouse and used to scrub everything down. In addition, some outhouse owners kept a bag of lime with a tin can in the outhouse, and occasionally dumped some down the holes to control the odor.

Why is a toilet called a John?

At one point in time these names began to be used for describing a small, smelly restroom area inside of a house. Only the very wealthy had jakes/jacks inside of their homes– most others were located somewhere outside. The name “John” was later derived from “Jake” and “Jack.”

Why is a toilet called a Jake?

In 16th century England, Jake was a common nickname for a yokel — a hick. In the days when there was no indoor plumbing as we enjoy today, "Jakes" or "Jake's House" made for useful euphemisms for the latrine.

What is the posh word for toilet?

In this page you can discover 63 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for toilet, like: restroom, john, bathroom, loo, latrine, ablutions, poet's corner, crapper, commode, ladies-room and can.

How do you keep an outhouse from smelling?

How long does an outhouse hole last?

With a traditional pit toilet, you cover the hole and move to a new location. It's simple and effective. A hole that's three feet wide and five feet deep will last five years for a family of six.

How did Pioneers go to the bathroom?

People used leaves, grass, or even dry corn cobs for wiping. Chamber pots had to be emptied each day. This was usually done by emptying them down the privy hole. With liquid waste, some just threw the contents out in the yard.

When did they stop using outhouses?

Well into the 20th century, outhouses remained in use in cities, as well as the country.

How deep does an outhouse hole have to be?

For the pit outhouse, dig an excavation that measures 3 1/2 feet x 3 1/2 feet and is five feet deep. This hole may later be cribbed in, but the cribbing is not absolutely essential. A properly managed privy is at least as healthful for people and land as a septic system and is far more than a place to evacuate waste.

Are outhouses legal in Texas?

Outhouses/Latrines

Outhouses are legal in Texas but there may be zoning laws which prohibit them, especially in developed areas. Even in rural areas, outhouses are only legal if they are 75 feet away from neighbor's residences.

Why is a check called a kite?

History. The term "check kiting" first came into use in the 1920s. It stemmed from a 19th-century practice of issuing IOUs and bonds with zero collateral. That practice became known as flying a kite, as there was nothing to support the loan besides air.

What is a donkey in Cockney slang?

donkey is Cockney slang for Stupid.

What does pony and trap mean in Cockney?

pony and trap (uncountable) (Cockney rhyming slang) Crap; rubbish, nonsense. (Cockney rhyming slang) Excrement; the act of defecation. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pony,‎ trap.