What's a privy?

[Scandiman]

I'm European, so hopefully you'll excuse my ignorance.

[Lone Wolf]

An outdoor s**thouse.

[Kerosene]

Usually characterized by a tall, thin, 4-sided enclosure with swinging door that doesn't work. Inside, a "bench" has a hole cut that gives backseat access to a lined pit. Ventilation is usually lacking, as are any other amenities. There are several notable exceptions to this characterization that have been memorialized in the annals of hikers. Numerous privies are captured on film and displayed in the photo gallery (click the "photos" button in the top right of the page).

[Belew]

It's a homemade water closet out in the woods.

[steve hiker]

It's where trail couples go for a little privacy when the shelter is full.

[Patco]

Privy (pri'-vee) n. 1934 Amer. 1. A woodland breeding facility for flies. 2. Personal 'dumping' area. 3. "Log" cabin with seating for one. 4. Cat hole large enough for a wooly mammoth. 5. Aroma producing locale to make you appreciate clean, fresh air.

[Scandiman]

Good thing I asked as I thought it was some sort of shelter. Hehe, quess it is in a way.

[DebW]

Better than a chum box in cold, wind, and rain. Though the chum box always had the best views!

[smokymtnsteve]

Phone booth???

[B Thrash]

Good thing I asked as I thought it was some sort of shelter. Hehe, quess it is in a way.

Scandiman, you just keep on asking questions and we will keep on trying to answer them. A question for you, now you know what a privy is in the USA what is it called in Europe?.

[papa john]

Well, actually, it is "some kind of shelter", it shelters you from the elements, to a degree, while you take your morning constitutional! But, you certainly wouldn't want to stay in one longer that the absolute minimum amount of time to take care of business.

[Darwin again]

Some of them are open air, too.
And there are no privies in Tennessee (is this still true?).

[tenbeer]

Some of them are open air, too.
And there are no privies in Tennessee (is this still true?).

Yes. hiked it last year

[Cannibal]

And there are no privies in Tennessee (is this still true?).

Unless you count SMNP.

[Summit]

I've heard them referred to as AT Holiday Inns!

[OldStormcrow]

Scandiman, you just keep on asking questions and we will keep on trying to answer them. A question for you, now you know what a privy is in the USA what is it called in Europe?.

The "loo"
Die toilette.
La toilette.
Il bagno.
De badkamer.

[Turtlehiker]

LOL that is what I am gonna start calling them "De badkamer" what language is that?

Found it Dutch...just found a great translator sight igoogle.com

[Homer&Marje]

I'm dutch. I hope that's what we call the ****ter. cause that's funny as hell.

And I thought privy was a british term.... guess not. "Just smoking a fag on the lieu darling. Be in for meat and pot`otos in a jiff"

No?

[buff_jeff]

Pittsburgh

[buckwheat]

A privy is a primitive exterior loo.

The thing that makes a privy a "privy" is that all of them will have a seat over a hole in the ground into which you deposit the remains of the day, as it were. A privy needn't have walls, nor roof. But requires at least a seat. A privy with no seat, walls or roof is a "cat-hole".

Here's a fairly basic privy (this one even has a lid - not all do):



Here's a fancy privy (known as an "outhouse"). These enhance privacy at the expense of aroma. Never urinate in one of these.



There is even a book on the subject of outhouses should you require additional information. I am fascinated by the books written on such obscure topics. I've yet to find a topic so obscure that someone, somewhere, at some time, hasn't written a book on the subject.

Cheers,
Buckwheat