chamber pot

/ˈCHāmbər ˌpät/

A chamber pot is a portable, bowl-shaped container used as an indoor toilet . Before the invention of modern indoor plumbing, they were commonly kept in bedrooms and used for urination or defecation, especially at night. [1, 2]

Key Details and History

• Etymology & Nicknames: The "chamber" in chamber pot refers to the bedroom . Over the centuries, they have been referred to by many slang terms including Jordan, jerry, guzunder, po, potty, thunder pot, and thunder mug . [1]
• Design & Materials: Depending on the wealth of the owner, they ranged from simple earthenware and enamel to luxury vessels made of pewter, porcelain, or even solid silver and encrusted jewels . [1, 2, 3]
• Historical Usage: Before the 20th century, using an outhouse or privy was inconvenient or unsafe, particularly during the winter . In the morning, household servants or family members would empty the collected waste into cesspits or outdoor waste bins . [1, 2]
• Evolution: In modern times, the term potty is used to describe similar small, portable training toilets used by young children. [1, 2]