khazi

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Variant of carsey, from euphemistic Cockney corruption of Italian casa (“house”),[1][2] possibly via Polari and Sabir [Term?].[3]

Pronunciation

Noun

khazi (plural khazis)

  1. (slang, chiefly Britain) An outhouse or lavatory: a place used for urination and defecation.
    • 1961, Eric Partridge, Dictionary of Slang, page 1029:
      Carsey,... a w.c.
    • 1968, T.E.B. Clarke, Trail of Serpent, Ch. xiii, page 122:
      You made a real thorough search? Everywhere? Outhouses, karzey, the lot?
  2. (slang, chiefly Britain) A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation (also figuratively).
    Well, that plan's down the khazi.
    • 1967, J. Burke, Till Death Us Do Part, Ch. v, page 84:
      Have you seen the carsy? Just a bucket with a seat on top.

Usage notes

Now most commonly used in Liverpool, away from its Cockney origin.[4]

Synonyms

Derived terms

References
  1. Partridge, Eric. A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 8th ed., p. 185.
  2. Oxford English Dictionary. "karzy, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1976.
  3. Corré, Alan D. "Polari Words from Lingua Franca" in A Glossary of Lingua Franca, 5th ed. 2005.
  4. "Why Do We Say?" (1987) by Nigel Rees
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