Cesspits

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A deep receptacle for waste materials and sewage that allows for temporary storage and decay
2. An underground cavity designed to hold accumulated liquid waste, often seen in places lacking modern sewage systems
3. A basin or hole for the disposal of human refuse and liquid waste, facilitating breakdown and potential drainage

Etymology: "Cesspits" is the plural of "cesspit," so the history belongs to the pit it names. A cesspit is a hole in the ground for receiving sewage or waste water, and the second half of the word, "pit," is an ordinary English word for a hole dug into the earth. The first half, "cess-," is the harder part. It is the same element found in "cesspool," and its origin is uncertain, so no firm source for it can be given with confidence. What is clear is that the two parts were joined in English to describe a plain, practical container for filth, with no classical or learned coinage involved. The word is a straightforward English compound, and its most interesting feature is that its first element has never been fully explained.

Synonyms: septic tanks, latrines, sinks, drains, pits