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Privy vs Backhouse - What's the difference?

privy | backhouse |

As nouns the difference between privy and backhouse

is that privy is an outdoor toilet; latrine; earth closet; john; johnny house while backhouse is a smaller building behind a main building; often a privy.

As an adjective privy

is private, exclusive; not public; one's own.

privy

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Private, exclusive; not public; one's own.
    • The king retreated to his privy chamber.
    the privy purse
  • Secret, hidden, concealed.
  • * 1967 , William Styron, The Confessions of Nat Turner , Vintage 2004, p. 82:
    • Nonetheless, in the dark and privy stillness of our minds there are few of us who are not still haunted by worrisome doubts.
  • With knowledge of; party to; let in on.
    • He was privy to the discussions.

    Noun

    (privies)
  • An outdoor toilet; latrine; earth closet; john; johnny house.
  • (legal) A partaker; one having an interest in an action, contract, etc. to which he is not himself a party.
    • (Burrill)
    (Wharton)

    backhouse

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A smaller building behind a main building; often a privy.
    • (Webster 1913)