Outhouse
In rural and Appalachian speech, an "outhouse" is a small outdoor building used as a toilet - usually without running water.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
Never seen one in use, although my Dad's farm had one when he was little. Pronunciation
[OUT-hows]
Meaning & Usage
- Outdoor toilet (noun)
Elmer:
Ain’t no runnin’ water here - you’ll have to use the outhouse.
Ain’t no runnin’ water here - you’ll have to use the outhouse.
Estel:
Hope there’s not a wasp nest in it this time.
Hope there’s not a wasp nest in it this time.variations: privy, backhouse, johnny house, little house, necessary house
★ In winter, it’s best to make your trip to the outhouse quick - and in summer, watch for critters. ★
Origin
Dates back to the 14th century in English, meaning "any small building away from the main house." By the 18th-19th centuries in America, it came to mean specifically a detached toilet building.
Notes
Still used in rural areas without plumbing, but also as a nostalgic or humorous term even where indoor bathrooms are standard.