English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Variant of carsey, from euphemistic Cockney corruption of Italian casa (house),[1][2] possibly via Polari [Term?] and Sabir [Term?].[3]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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khazi (plural khazis)

  1. (slang, chiefly UK) An outhouse or lavatory: a place used for urination and defecation.
    • 1961, Eric Partridge, Dictionary of Slang, page 1029:
      Carsey,... a w.c.
    • 1968, T.E.B. Clarke, chapter XIII, in Trail of Serpent, page 122:
      You made a real thorough search? Everywhere? Outhouses, karzey, the lot?
  2. (slang, chiefly UK) A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation (also figurative).
    Well, that plan's down the khazi.
    • 1967, J. Burke, chapter V, in Till Death Us Do Part, page 84:
      Have you seen the carsy? Just a bucket with a seat on top.

Usage notes

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Now most commonly used in Liverpool, away from its Cockney origin.[4]

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Eric Partridge (1984) Paul Beale, editor, A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English [], 8th edition, New York: Macmillan, page 185
  2. ^ Oxford English Dictionary. "karzy, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1976.
  3. ^ Corré, Alan D. "Polari Words from Lingua Franca" in A Glossary of Lingua Franca, 5th ed. 2005.
  4. ^ "Why Do We Say?" (1987) by Nigel Rees