cesspool

• cess pool, sesspool

From earlier sesspool. Origin uncertain.

Possibly an alteration of English dialectal suspool, from suss, soss (“puddle; mire”) +‎ pool. Alternatively, from a folk etymology (influence from pool) from earlier cesperalle, alteration of Middle English suspiral, from Middle French souspirail (“air hole”), from soupirer, souspirer (“to sigh, breathe”), from Latin suspirare.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛsˌpuːl/

cesspool (plural cesspools)

1. An underground pit where sewage is held.
2. (by extension) A filthy place.

• septic tank
• cesspit
• gongpit