English edit

Etymology edit

From self- +‎ emptying.

Adjective edit

self-emptying (not comparable)

  1. That can empty itself, when required to do so.
    • 1951 March, “British Railways Standard "Britannia" Class 4-6-2 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 185:
      The ashpan has three hoppers, one between and one on each side of the main frames, and is of the self-emptying type, having bottom flap doors on the hoppers, connected by a shaft with universal joints and operated by a lever at ground level.