outhouse
UK[ˈaʊthaʊs]US[ˈaʊtˌhaʊs]
n
A small building containing a toilet, located outside a house or other main building.
Morpheme Breakdown
out
house
out
house
Etymology
The word 'outhouse' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. 'Out,' from Old English ūt, carries the fundamental sense of "outside" or "exterior." 'House,' from Old English hūs, broadly denotes a building or structure for shelter. The compound logically describes a subsidiary structure situated apart from the main dwelling. Its specific application to an outdoor toilet is a pragmatic development from the general concept of an exterior building, reflecting a time when such facilities were commonly separate for hygiene and practical reasons.
Analysis
Structure: out + house
out (Old English: ūt) - A word-forming element meaning "outside, outward, beyond."
house (Old English: hūs) - A noun meaning "a building for human dwelling or shelter."
Examples
The old farm had an outhouse at the back of the property.
Before indoor plumbing was common, using an outhouse was a nightly chore.
They converted the dilapidated outhouse into a quaint garden shed.