Cousin John

English Alternative forms en cuz john, en cuzjohn, en Cuz-John Etymology From en John outhouse; lavatory; chamber pot; toilet. Possibly derived from a "euphemistic phrase of excuse" (e.g., "visiting my cousin John" or "going to cousin John's house"), similar to modern use of "powdering one's nose", but this is unattested.Quinion, Michael. "John". World Wide Words. 14 November 1998. Noun - Cousin John en US slang obsolete A place or device for urination and defecation: an outhouse or chamber pot. 1735, Richard Waldron, "A Freshman Guide", in 1953, William Bentinck-Smith, The Harvard Book, p. 162: 20. No freshman shall mingo against the College wall or go into the fellows' cuzjohn. en 1741 https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=TEAYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA319 The Customs of Harvard College 1851 John Bartlett A Collection of College Words and Customs 319 18. No Freshman shall call or throw any thing across the College yard, nor go into the Fellow's Cuz-John.* *Abbreviated for Cousin John, i.e. a privy. en 2001 https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA645 Public Privies to Private Baths The Guide to United States Popular Culture 645 American males often used British terms such as Cousin John or Jake to refer to a privy or a chamber pot. Synonyms en john US; en jakes now chiefly Irish; see also Thesaurus:outhouse and Thesaurus:chamber pot References en Buildings Rooms Toilet (room)