cesspool

Meaning

1. An underground pit where sewage is held.
2. (broadly) A filthy place.

Synonyms

cesspit

sink

sump

sewer

septic tank

gooseneck

latrine

pit

puddle

pervious cesspool

CP

tank for holding excreta

manure sink

waste

lavatory with septic tanks

sanitary provisions

leaching cesspool

manure pit

dump

dugout

fossa

fosse

Translations

fosse

beerput

Jauchengrube

Jauchegrube

Senkgrube

fossa

🕳️

fosse d’aisance

βόθρος

Güllegrube

pozzo nero

zinkput

Pfuhl

fogna

pozo negro

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɛsˌpuːl/

Etymology

From earlier sesspool. Origin uncertain.
Perhaps from Italian cesso (“privy, toilet”) + English pool. Alternatively, an alteration of English dialectal suspool, from suss, soss (“puddle; mire”) + pool. Another possible derivation is from a folk etymology (influence from pool) from earlier cesperalle, alteration of Middle English suspiral, from Middle French souspirail (“air hole”), from soupirer, souspirer (“to sigh, breathe”), from Latin suspirare.