Biffy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A colloquial term for a portable or outdoor toilet facility; a diminutive word sometimes used affectionately to refer to a bathroom; an informal name for a small structure designated for relieving oneself
2. An informal expression designating a temporary or movable restroom; a casual nickname for a lavatory; a slang term for an outhouse or small bathroom setup
3. A popular slang word for an outdoor bathroom unit; a friendly, informal way to mention a toilet; a word used to describe a compact, portable sanitation facility

Etymology: "Biffy" is a Scottish and Northern English slang term for an outdoor toilet, and its origin is uncertain. The most widely proposed source is "privy," the old word for a small outhouse. If that is right, the change involves two consonant shifts: the initial "p" became "b," a voiced sound, and the "v" in the middle of the word lost its voicing and became "f." The result sounds like a playful, clipped version of the older term. The word is first recorded in 1935, so it is a fairly modern piece of slang rather than an ancient dialect survivor. It has stayed close to informal speech, which suits a term for a toilet that people prefer not to name plainly. Because the origin rests on a plausible guess rather than documented evidence, the link to "privy" should be treated as a likely explanation rather than a settled fact.

Synonyms: toilet, lavatory, outhouse, restroom, bathroom