noun
jakes
jayks
noun
1
An old-fashioned word for an outdoor toilet or outhouse.
"The old farmhouse still had a jakes out behind the barn."
How to Use Jakes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dated, euphemistic word for an outhouse or lavatory.
When to use it
Archaic — you'll mostly meet this in older literature (e.g. Shakespeare) rather than modern speech.
Word Forms
jakeses plural
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The old farmhouse still had a _____ out behind the barn.
Etymology
From a Middle English variant of the name "Jack" or "Jacques," later used euphemistically for the toilet, much like "the John" is used today.