This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jack Bethune (talk | contribs) at 17:56, 10 September 2006 (rewrite or re-edit for improved construction and clarity). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 17:56, 10 September 2006 by Jack Bethune (talk | contribs) (rewrite or re-edit for improved construction and clarity)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A Commode is any of several pieces of furniture.
The English word commode comes from French roots meaning "convenient" or "suitable".
Originally, in furniture it meant a cabinet, with one or more doors, that served as a washstand with a washbasin and water jug, and that also offered an enclosed area below for storing a chamberpot. Convenience cabinets called commodes often furnished middle-class bedrooms before the days of indoor plumbing.
In modern English use, the term has become a euphemism meaning toilet, usually a lavatory appliance made of porcelain, or a metal chair with a built-in chamber pot often used in nursing homes.
In contemporary French, however, la commode, like the German die Kommode, means a low chest of drawers on stubby legs. This current meaning of the French word applies especially to chests in the French style.
The term is also used quite frequently to mean house, especially by Peruvian youths.
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