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earth-closet

earth-closet

9.9
A small outdoor toilet that uses earth to cover waste instead of flushing it
  • noun
  • /ˈɜːθˌklɒzɪt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : inodoro de tierra
  • Further examination revealed an earth closet close by and a cold-water tap in the garden wall.

Examples

  • The old farm had an earth closet located in the back shed, where the waste was covered with soil after use.

  • I was lowered into a large tub, which was supposed to become part of the earth closet, and buckets of hot water were splashed over.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • When I lost one—a red one—in the detritus of the earth closet Powl had me digging, I went into a panic that all my work would be invalidated.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • During a hike in the countryside, we came across an earth closet that had no modern plumbing.

  • In the rural village, every house had an earth closet as the main method for handling sewage.

Synonyms

outhouse
vsearth-closet
33 5.8

A small building near a house that has a simple outdoor toilet

covers waste with earth instead of being flushed away
closet
vsearth-closet
  • Archaic
30 8.0

A small room with a toilet in older British houses

uses earth to cover waste rather than using indoor plumbing or flushing
privy
vsearth-closet
  • Archaic
12 9.9

A small outdoor toilet in a separate building

employs earth to cover waste instead of sending it away via pipes
jakes
vsearth-closet
  • Archaic
2 9.9

An outdoor building with a bench and holes that people used to go to the toilet

uses earth to cover waste rather than removing it by flushing

How Hygienic

flush toilet
3 1.4
sewer
209 1.9
earth-closet
  • Archaic
9.9
pit
230 3.6

Surface Forms

earth-closet singular
earth-closets plural

Morphology

earth-closet = earth + closet (transparent) = earth + closet

Direct compound of 'earth' + 'closet' referring to a small enclosure where earth is used to cover waste; meaning follows straightforwardly from the components.

Etymology

Earth-closet comes from the simple words earth ('soil') and closet ('small private room'). It named a small toilet where people covered their waste with earth instead of flushing it, so the name literally tells you it is a 'soil' toilet.