cesspool

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From earlier sesspool. Origin uncertain.

Perhaps from Italian cesso (“privy, a toilet”) + English pool. Alternatively, an alteration of English dialectal suspool, from suss, soss (“a 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 (“an air hole”), from soupirer, souspirer (“to sigh, breathe”), from Latin suspirare.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsɛsˌpuːl/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

cesspool (plural cesspools)

  1. An underground pit where sewage is held.
    Synonyms: cesspit, gongpit
    Coordinate term: septic tank
  2. (by extension, figurative, derogatory) A filthy place.
    Synonym: cesspit

Derived terms

Translations

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