close-stool
Definition
- Noun: A "close-stool" is a piece of furniture that encloses a chamber pot, used as a portable toilet, typically in the past before modern plumbing became common. It consists of a seat with a hole and a container beneath it, often covered with a lid when not in use.
Usage Examples
- (A portable toilet enclosed in furniture.)
- (A historical toilet with a seat and hidden chamber pot.)
Advanced Usage
- "close-stool" may appear in historical or literary contexts to describe a piece of furniture that served as a private toilet.
- The diary mentions a close-stool being brought to the queen's chamber every morning. (A toilet for royalty, kept in a private room.)
Variants and Related Words
- Close-stool (n): the primary spelling; also written as closestool (hyphenation varies).
- Chamber pot (n): the container used inside a close-stool.
- Commode (n): a similar piece of furniture, often used in modern times as a bedside toilet.
Synonyms
- Commode: a portable toilet, often with a seat and a container.
- Night stool: a historical term for a close-stool used at night.
- Toilet chair: a chair-like device with a hole and a pot beneath.
Related Idioms
- "To be on the close-stool": a historical euphemism for using the toilet.
- The king was said to be on his close-stool when the messenger arrived. (Using the private toilet.)
Phrasal Verbs
- None directly associated with "close-stool" as it is a noun. However, related verbs like "to use the close-stool" may appear.
- The servant helped the elderly woman use the close-stool. (Assist with the portable toilet.)