Commode
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "commode" most often means a toilet. While the word originally referred to a chest of drawers or a decorative stand, Southerners gave it a bathroom meaning that stuck.
synonyms: toilet, restroom, bathroom fixture
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, we called it a 'commode' exclusively. I don't hear it as much these days. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, we called it a 'commode' exclusively. I don't hear it as much these days. Pronunciation
[kuh-MOHD]
/kəˈmoʊd/
/kəˈmoʊd/
Meaning & Usage
- Toilet (noun, dialect)
Clara:
Where’s the bathroom?
Where’s the bathroom?
Elmer:
Right through there - the commode’s on the left.
Right through there - the commode’s on the left.- Furniture - chest of drawers, cabinet
Estel:
Mama called that dresser a commode back when she was growin’ up.
Mama called that dresser a commode back when she was growin’ up.variations: toilet, stool, privy
★ If you're talkin' to somebody's great granny, then I'd recommend using this term instead of that ol' nasty 't' word. ★
Origin and Etymology
From French commode, meaning "convenient" or "suitable." Entered English in the 17th century for furniture (like chests and washstands). In Southern and Appalachian English, the meaning shifted by the early 20th century to mean "toilet," likely from association with indoor plumbing fixtures built into cabinets or stands.
Usage Notes
- In standard American English, commode usually means furniture; in the South/Appalachia, it usually means a toilet.
- Commonly heard in older generations; younger Southerners may prefer toilet or bathroom.
- Can cause confusion outside the region, where the furniture meaning is more familiar.