Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.
Easement room — [chamber of easement] A privy or latrine. Euphemisms are perennial: today an American equivalent of easement room is comfort station . Cf. Longaigne; Stool room … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Gomphus — A curved stick supplied in the *longaigne and used as we use toilet paper; an alternative to the *torche cul also supplied in a basket … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Gomph stick — A curved stick supplied in the *longaigne and used as we use toilet paper; an alternative to the *torche cul also supplied in a basket … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Gong-hus — Lit. going house . An outhouse, latrine. Cf. Longaigne … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Rere-dorter — Lit. rear of the dormitory . A latrine accessible from the *dorter. It was sometimes referred to also as the necessarium, lit. the necessary . All monasteries were founded close by running water. The rere dorter was built where it would be… … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Stool-room — The king s lavatory within the confines of the privy chamber. [< OldEngl. stol = stool, chair] Cf. Stool, groom of the; Easement room; Longaigne … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Torche-cul — Straw for use in a latrine. The phrase can be read in two ways, offering a nice colloquial play on words. Torche can mean either a torch for the giving of light for which straw could be used, or as a noun meaning wipe . Thus torche cul means… … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
latrines — [ latrin ] n. f. pl. • 1437; lat. latrina, de lavatrina « lavabo » ♦ Lieux d aisances sommaires dépourvus de toute installation sanitaire. ⇒ cabinet, fosse (d aisances). « la suffocante odeur de latrines » (Cl. Simon). Latrines militaires. ⇒… … Encyclopédie Universelle
