necessary place

English

Etymology

Likely formed under influence from necessarium (“monastic latrine, outhouse, or lavatory”) and necessary (“outhouse; lavatory”).

Noun

necessary place (plural necessary places)

1. (euphemistic, obsolete) A place used for the business of urination and defecation: an outhouse or lavatory.
   • 1747 15 December, Lord Chesterfield, letter:

     He bought, for example, a common edition of Horace, of which he tore off gradually a couple of pages, carried them with him to that necessary place, read them first, and then sent them down as a sacrifice to Cloacina: this was so much time fairly gained, and I recommend you to follow his example.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:bathroom

Related terms

• See necessary

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed. "necessary, adj. and n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2003.