slop jar
A "slop jar" is an Appalachian and Southern nickname for a chamber pot - a portable toilet kept in the bedroom before indoor plumbing. The name came from the unpleasant task of emptying it out.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Papaw called his chamber pot a 'slop jar,' but I've not heard that in years. Pronunciation
[SLOP jar]
Meaning & Usage
- Chamber pot (country nickname) (noun)
Papaw:
Boy, take that slop jar out ‘fore it stinks up the house.
Boy, take that slop jar out ‘fore it stinks up the house.
Son:
Yes sir.
Yes sir.- Reminder of life before plumbing (noun)
Mamaw:
other spellings: chamber pot, thunder mug, night pot, bedpan, and potty
★ "Slop jar" wasn’t meant polite - it was plain country talk. Families usually kept one in each bedroom, and emptying them was part of the morning routine. ★
Origin
The nickname likely comes from the act of "slopping out" (emptying) the pot each morning. It reflects Appalachian plain-speech and humor about unpleasant chores.
Notes
Especially common in Appalachia and the rural South. The phrase carried on in country families even after bathrooms came in, often remembered with a mix of disgust and nostalgia.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain and sharp: "slop-jar." Sometimes runs together like "slopjar."