po
Po (noun) means a chamber pot. Example: “The old cottage still had a po tucked under the bed.”
How to use po
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dated word for a chamber pot, or informal slang for the police.
Both senses are informal/dated; not common in everyday modern speech.
Word forms
pos plural, pos plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old cottage still had a _____ tucked under the bed.
Etymology
From Middle English po (found also in pocock), from Old English pāwa, pēa (“peacock”), from Proto-Germanic *pāwô (“peacock”), from Latin pāvō. Cognate with Dutch pauw, German Pfau. See also peacock.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “po” mean?
The word “po” means a chamber pot. In plain terms, a dated word for a chamber pot, or informal slang for the police.
How do you pronounce “po”?
“Po” is pronounced poh (/pəʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “po” in a sentence?
Here is “po” used in a sentence: “The old cottage still had a po tucked under the bed.”
What part of speech is “po”?
“Po” is a noun.
Is “po” a common word?
“Po” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “po” have?
“Po” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a chamber pot.
Is the word po formal or informal?
Both senses of "po" are informal. The chamber-pot meaning is dated and chiefly British, while its use to mean the police is slang, so neither belongs in formal writing.
What is the difference between a po and a chamber pot?
They mean the same thing: "po" is simply an informal, old-fashioned British word for a chamber pot, a bowl kept in the bedroom for use as a toilet. "Chamber pot" is the fuller, more neutral term.
What is the difference between a po and a potty?
A "po" is an old-fashioned British word for a chamber pot used by adults, while a "potty" more often refers to a small pot used to toilet-train young children. The two overlap, but potty is the word usually linked with children.
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