Dictionary

cesspool

noun cess·pool \-ˌpül\

: an underground hole or container for holding liquid waste (such as sewage) from a building

: a place or situation that is very dirty, evil, or corrupt

Full Definition of CESSPOOL

1
:  an underground reservoir for liquid waste (as household sewage)
2
:  a filthy, evil, or corrupt place or state <a cesspool of corruption>
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Origin of CESSPOOL

perhaps by folk etymology from Middle English suspiral vent, tap on a main pipe, settling pool, from Anglo-French suspirale vent, from suspirer to sigh, exhale, from Latin suspirare, literally, to draw a long breath — more at suspire
First Known Use: 1782

Related to CESSPOOL

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

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