out-houses
|out-house|
/ˈaʊt.haʊs/
(outhouse)
small building outside the house (often a toilet)
Etymology
'outhouse' originates from Old English, specifically the elements 'ūt' meaning 'out' and 'hūs' meaning 'house'.
'outhouse' appeared in Middle English as the compound 'out-house' (literally 'a house out[side]') and later became the single word 'outhouse' in modern English.
Initially it meant 'a building outside the main house' in a general sense; over time one of its dominant senses became 'an outdoor toilet', which is the common modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an external small building containing a toilet (often a simple pit or non‑flushing facility).
The campsite's out-houses were a short walk from the cabins.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/15 04:44