Outhouse
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 An outbuilding, typically permanent, containing a toilet or seat over a cesspit. Canada, US
- 2 a small outbuilding with a bench having holes through which a user can defecate wordnet
- 3 Any outbuilding: any small structure located apart from a main building. dated
"I had first to obtain a recommendation from the Assistant Resident to the Regent, and then an order from the Regent to the Waidono; and when after a week's delay I arrived with my baggage and men at Modjo-agong, I found them all in the midst of a five days' feast, to celebrate the circumcision of the Waidono's younger brother and cousin, and had a small room in an outhouse given me to stay in."
- 1 To house in a separate building. transitive
"In our discussion of outhousing we have tried to take into account the inconvenience to users as well as the potential savings in costs."
Example
More examples"Just one outhouse was lost to the torrents, in part because scientists warned residents in the area about the approaching danger."
Etymology
From Middle English outhous, equivalent to out- + house. Compare Old Norse úthús (“outhouse”).
Related phrases
More for "outhouse"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.