This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ctpeck (talk | contribs) at 15:32, 18 March 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 15:32, 18 March 2006 by Ctpeck (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A Commode is any of several pieces of furniture.
Originally it was a low chest of drawers on stubby legs, and this is the current meaning of the word in French, and in the world of antiques; especially such a chest in the French style.
It can also mean a washstand, typically carrying a washbasin and jug, that would be in a middle-class bedroom before the days of indoor plumbing.
The more modern meaning is that of a chair with a built-in chamber pot.
In a former era this form of commode would have been found in many upper class residences. Today however it is rarely seen outside of museums and nursing homes.
Today its modern metal version is used for the elderly and infirm in nursing homes, hospitals and patients' own homes.
The English word comes from French roots meaning "convenient" or "suitable". In contemporary French however, la commode, like the German die Kommode means a chest of drawers. In modern English, commode is sometimes used as a euphemistic term, meaning a toilet.
 | This article about furniture or furnishing is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |