Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010049, Tue, 13 Jul 2004 14:12:04 -0700

Subject
Re: TT 2 & 3 commode
Date
Body
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 2:06 PM -0400
From: STADLEN@aol.com
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: Re: TT 2 & 3 (fwd)

In a message dated 13/07/2004 18:51:21 GMT Standard Time,
chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu writes:


It is my impression that "commode" is no longer used by Americans although
in my youth it was still used as a euphemism for the toilet fixure and also
for a dresser. Maybe a Brit can fill us in.



I know it (in London English) only as the standard word for a chair with a
chamber pot fitting into the seat for old or sick people to use.

However, the OED says it can also be:

(1) [I paraphrase and shorten] a late 17th or early 18th century
fashionable tall head-dress for women;

(2) a procuress, a bawd (Obs.);

(3) [I paraphrase and shorten] a piece of furniture with drawers and
shelves for bedroom or drawing-room.

Sorry not to transcribe in full. Writing in haste.

Anthony Stadlen

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D. Barton Johnson
NABOKV-L